Gaya: India Power, the franchise holder for power distribution in Gaya town, Bodhgaya and Manpur areas of the district, proposes to link power avai-lability with revenue generation.

The strategy means that areas from where the company gets more revenue would get preference in power supply and power would be made available for longer periods in such areas. Localities where power theft is rampant and revenue generation is low, would get fewer hours of power supply. Sub-stations would be the unit for such mechanism.

Though company officials are reluctant to go on record, sources said that as per the plan, areas like AP Colony and Patwatoli would be given more power as compared to Delha, Chandauti and Dandibagh sub-station.

Revenue collection figures for Dandibagh, Chandauti and Delha sub-stations are very disappointing. In some areas it is only about 25 per cent of the billed energy.

The power company, in order to cut losses, has also started installation of smart meters that can be converted into prepaid mode.

Around 10,000 smart meters have already been installed. As of now concentration is on rural areas where incidents of power theft are more pronounced, said an official.

The Gaya unit of the company has got a consumer base of about 2 lakh users. The company has also fitted 240 of the 100KV transformers with meters to record the power output and compare the same with transformer level revenue generation. There are 750 transformers in the Gaya town area.

The power company runs on 50 per cent loss. Against the supply of 72 million units per month, the company gets revenue for about 36 million units.

RTI activist Brajnandan Pathak said linking power supply with revenue generation was discriminatory against the not so well-off users.

"You cannot punish genuine bill payers for wrongs committed by defaulters," added Pathak.

"The power company is obsessed with revenue and cares less about duration and quality of power supply. Voltage fluctuations damage electronic/electrical gadgets, including pump sets, TVs, washing machines, air-conditioners, refrigerators and food processors," Pathak alleged.

Responding to Pathak, a senior official said the company was not here to do charity and that the consumers will have to pay for the facility enjoyed by them.