West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company

The Government of West Bengal unbundled the erstwhile West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB) into two companies viz., West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) and West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company (WBSETCL). The main business of WBSEDCL is distribution and hydro generation of electricity. It is also the Nodal Agency of the Government of West Bengal for undertaking the Rural Electrification task in the State with the objective of providing access to electricity to all rural households in the state in line with the National Rural Electrification Policy. After the successful implementation of the Purulia Pumped Storage Project in the 10th Plan period with a capacity of 900 MW hydel power, the company has taken up the ambitious plan of implementing the Turga Pumped Storage Project in the 13th Plan period with an installed capacity of 4 x 250 MW.

The company is managed by a Board of Directors comprising twelve members out of which seven are Executive Directors including Chairman & Managing Director. Besides one Woman Director and four Independent Directors constitute the Board.[5] includes Shri Santanu Basu, Kausik Basak, Ajay Kumar Pandey, Sujay Sarkar, Surajit Chakrabortty, Gautam Sengupta, Gopal Krishna Saxena, Saswati Banerjee, and Pankaj Batra.

WBSEDCL provides power to a customer base of more than 1.95 crores across West Bengal through its service network spanning 5 Zones, 20 Regional Offices, 76 Distribution Divisions, and 533 Customer Care Centers.[6]

In the field of Information Technology, WBSEDCL has implemented Enterprise Resource Planning – SAP in Financial Accounting & Control, Material Management, HR with Payroll, Plant Maintenance and Project System. Apart from that SCADA, Smart Grid, development of IT system through R-APDRP Project, Mobile App development, e-payment through own website and third party,Spot bill, collection kiosk etc. have been implemented. [7]

After successful implementation of Purulia Pumped Stotage Project in 10th Plan period with a capacity of 900 MW hydel power, the Company has taken up the ambitious plan of implementing Turga Pumped Storage Project in the 13th Plan period with installed capacity of 4 x 250 MW.[8]

A Project titled Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS)for strengthening of sub-transmission and Distribution networks, metering of Distribution transformers, reduction of AT&C loss, access to power to all houseland etc. in the urban areas having population of more than 50,000 as per 2011 census has been undertaken. Many new Sub-Stations have been constructed under this centrally funded scheme across the state of West Bengal.[9]

A Project titled DEENDAYAL UPADHYAYA GRAM JYOTI YOJANA (DDUGJY) for separation of agricultural and non-agricultural feeders, strengthening of sub-transmission and Distribution networks, metering of Distribution transformers, reduction of AT&C loss, access to power to all houseland etc. in the rural areas has been undertaken. Many new Sub-Stations have been constructed under this centrally funded scheme across the state of West Bengal.[10]

A new project to be funded by the World Bank is also in the pipeline.

A programme for system improvement under Sech Bandhu Scheme has also been conceived for rural areas.

CESC