The importance of agriculture consumption estimation arises from the fact that agriculture consumption is largely unmetered and is billed on flat rate. The Commission has always held the view that correct and realistic estimation of agriculture consumption is an imperative for accurate calculation of losses and for better projection of subsidy amount. The correct calculation of agriculture consumption as well as losses would only be possible after achieving cent percent metering of all agriculture connections. Though the licensee has put some meters on un-metered agriculture pump-set consumers but still the progress in this matter is woefully slow. The licensee has miles to go.
The number of unmetered agriculture pump set consumers has reduced from 93,670/- (as on 30th April, 2001) to 88309 (as on 31st March 2005) but still it constitutes 5.07% of the total number of consumers (The total number of consumers in DHBVNL is 17,40,328 as on 31.03.2005).
As per the licensee’s filing during FY 2004-05, the consumption by this category of consumer constitutes 24.03% of the total sales in DHBVNL. Thus, the importance of proper metering which the Commission has been reiterating in its previous order(s) need to be viewed very seriously by the licensee.
While perusing the 5 years’ consumption data submitted by the DHBVNL, the Commission observed wide variation even in case of metered agriculture pump-set consumers say during 2002-03 and 2003-04, the average running hours/day has been shown increased from 4.73 hour/day and 4.41 hour/day to 4.83 hours/day and 5.09 hours/day respectively. It has also been brought to the notice of the Commission that there are large numbers of defective meters in the metered Agriculture pump set category. The Commission therefore, directs the licensee to take prompt action to replace such meters on war footing so that authenticity of data is maintained.
In view of the above, the Commission has once again maintained its consistent approach of projection of consumption of metered agriculture pump sets on the basis of Average Annual Load Factor (ALF) and that of un-metered agriculture pump sets on the pattern of consumption of metered agriculture pump sets.
As
per the actual consumption data for metered agriculture pump-set consumer
category submitted by DHBVNL, the average running hours per day works out to be
as depicted in table 4.26:
Table 4.26 - Average running hours/day for metered agriculture pump-set consumer
|
Year |
Average
No. of hours per day |
|
2000-01 |
4.53 |
|
2001-02 |
4.83 |
|
2002-03 |
4.83 |
|
2003-04 |
5.09 |
|
2004-05 |
5.15 |
The licensee has projected the consumption based on 5.28 hours/day for FY 2005-06.
The Commission while analysing the 5 years past data found certain apparent errors, which led to an enhanced consumption in agriculture metered category. A few of such data has been corrected but has definitely raised a question mark on validity of the data being submitted by the licensee to the Commission. Secondly the year FY 2003-04 and FY 2004-05 had been drought year and hence reported higher consumption. FY 2005-06 is expected to be normal year and hence the Commission feels that the agriculture consumption be taken as 5.15 hrs/day as per the average Annual Load Factor of 2004-05.
The same pattern has been adopted for agriculture unmetered (billed on flat rate) consumer category.
