According to reports, the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has started a Rs 1,500 crore project to update the power supply in its command area. This will guarantee high-quality power throughout the day and minimize aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses.  With very little supply to retail customers, DVC's whole distribution network mostly caters to industry.

In order to create a strong primary and secondary distribution network throughout DVC's command area, which covers 24,235 square kilometers in West Bengal and Jharkhand, the project focuses on switching from traditional electricity distribution to a cutting-edge, technology-driven system.

"The project capex is nearly Rs 1,500 crore and will be completed in 18 months. The system integrates advanced features such as a distribution management system, outage management system, customer relation management, metering data management system, GIS mapping for real-time communication, ring main units (RMU), and fiber optic-based metering communication systems," says DVC member (Finance) Arup Sarkar.

“The new distribution system incorporates cutting-edge technologies, including unmanned container-based substations (E-houses) equipped with GIS-based 33 KV panels, modular battery chargers, and substation automation systems (SAS),” adds Arup.
 

“In the first phase, DVC will deploy 12 E-houses, 8 conventional indoor-based 33/11 KV substations, and 4 GIS-based prefab substations. The first E-house was commissioned on January 3, 2025, in Dhanbad, with additional E-houses in BIADA, Deoli, Giridih, Hazaribagh, and Sindri slated for commissioning by March 2025,” says Arup.

Two state-of-the-art control centers in Koderama, Jharkhand, and Kalyaneshwari, West Bengal, will oversee the complete distribution network, including customer feeds.

 

These centers will have a customer cell open around the clock and provide hot redundancy.  Clients will be able to easily control their services through a mobile app, doing away with the need for in-person interactions, thanks to the new system's ability to automatically connect and disconnect clients based on billing and collection.

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"This technological leap marks a significant milestone in DVC's journey towards modernizing power distribution. By leveraging cutting-edge solutions, we aim to enhance operational efficiency, reduce losses, and provide our consumers with a seamless and transparent experience," adds Arup.