Energy auditing: case study of Karnataka

Karnataka signed up for UDAY Scheme in June 2016 with an objective of improving operational efficiency of its DISCOMs. As per the scheme, Karnataka has a target of reducing its aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) loss to 14.2% by FY19. The Karnataka DISCOMs seem to have brought down their AT&C loss over the last five years. The AT&C loss has reduced from 21% in FY13 to 15% in FY18. Karnataka adopted energy auditing as a major reform initiative in 2001 to calculate energy loss. Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) developed an energy audit format in 2003, to determine technical and non-technical loss separately. Karnataka DISCOMs initiated the energy audit for 11 kV substations in June 2003 although KERC mandated it in September 2001.