Dahiya said that these losses have been causing a dent to the financial health of the utilities. In some rural feeders line losses range between 35 to 50% due to rampant power theft. Feeder wise franchisee will only help the private parties to garner profits. Discoms may get temporary relief but will lose in the long run.

The association alleged that XEN Gian Chand was able to control line losses and power theft in Kurukshetra but he was transferred at the behest of politicians. A seminar on reduction in line losses and curbing of power theft has been proposed to discuss the issue.

The executive opposed the proposal for giving feeder-wise franchisee and instead suggested that this can be done departmentally by adopting Patiala model in the state. The government should give support to engineers to reduce transmission losses and curb power theft.

V K Gupta, spokesperson of AIPEF said that in Patiala a pilot project was implemented on four feeders. In urban area 11 KV Hospital feeder in Patiala, transmission and distribution losses were reduced from 24.83 % to 8.72 %. In urban slum area 11 KV Badungar feeders, these losses were reduced from 54.72 % to 8.36 %. In rural areas 11 KV Ablowal feeder line losses were reduced from 49.98% to 18.06%. On 11KV Dakala feeder line losses were brought down to 19.95% from record 76.17%.

The executive demanded that posts of downgrading of Assistant Executive Engineers to Assistant Engineers in HVPN should be restored immediately. The association alleged that a number of sincere and dedicated engineers have been sidelined on political ground. The engineers should be involved in policy making decision at board level. The promotion of officers against vacant posts should not be delayed.