APEPDCL reports lowest-ever distribution loss of 5.61% for 2025-26

Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPPDCL) recorded the lowest ever distribution loss of 5.61% for the financial year 2025-26; this is the lowest level since the state-owned utility was established.

According to official data, the company recorded total input energy of 28,200.50 million units (MU) against total sales of 26,618.45 MU. This left a distribution loss of 1,582.05 MU or 5.61%. The company said the figure places it among the better-performing state power distribution companies (DISCOMs) in India in terms of loss reduction and energy accounting.

Officials said the result was significant given the organization’s operational footprint, which includes rural, tribal, agricultural, coastal and dispersed consumer bases.

Data-driven corrections

The company attributed this improvement to energy audit corrections, feeder input verifications, mapping corrections and monitoring at field units.

During the energy audit review of segregated agri-feeders in July 2025, around 2 lakh non-agricultural consumers were found to be incorrectly mapped to Pure Agricultural (R5) and Mixed Agricultural (R7) feeders in the Operations Management System (OMS) despite being physically shifted to 24-hour supply lines. The correction was assessed as a shortfall of 64.98 MU in agricultural consumption in the first quarter of the fiscal year (April-June 2025).

Substructure and feeder separation

Under the revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), the number of Pure Farming (R5) feeders increased from 306 in April 2025 to 669 by March 2026, improving the accuracy of agricultural assessment.

Green energy integration

Approximately 185.56 MU of clean energy was injected into the Low Voltage (LT) network through Solar Rooftop (SRT) systems, helping to reduce LT distribution losses.

Technology adoption

The company said smart meter analytics help detect power theft, missing voltage and current anomalies and enable recovery and billing of lost units.

Technical fixes; It covered field unit correction, incorrect Multiplying Factors (MFs), CT/PT ratios, phase mismatches, polarity issues and feeder metering anomalies. Energy Theft (TE) and Back Billing (BB) cases have been integrated into billing cycles in coordination with the Revenue Directorate.

The road ahead

APEPDCL management has set a target of further reducing distribution losses to 5% for the ongoing financial year (2026-27).

EPDCL Chairman and Managing Director I. Prudhvitej said that achieving this will depend on expansion of smart metering networks, improved energy auditing, acceleration of RDSS work and stricter accountability in terms of feeder through regular reviews among field officers.