THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 22, 2026

    Setting a clear mandate of “Zero Fatalities, Zero Blackouts,” Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Thursday said that Odisha DISCOMs must combine stringent safety practices with technology-driven reliability to deliver uninterrupted and secure power supply across the state.

Reviewing the performance of the state’s power distribution companies — TPCODL, TPNODL, TPSODL and TPWODL — for the period ending December 31, 2025, at the Board Meeting of Odisha DISCOMs, the Chief Secretary reaffirmed the state’s strong commitment to sustained capital investment in network modernisation, reliability enhancement and technology-led initiatives to build a resilient, future-ready distribution system. The meeting also deliberated on the timely execution of government-funded projects aligned with national and state priorities on energy access, sustainability and efficiency.

The review focused on operational outcomes, strategic priorities and the roadmap for strengthening power distribution infrastructure while enhancing consumer experience across service areas.

Progress under the smart metering programme was reviewed, underscoring its role in enabling transparent billing, improved energy accounting and deeper consumer engagement. Emphasis was also placed on the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana through the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model, recognising its potential to accelerate rooftop solar adoption, empower consumers and support Odisha’s clean energy transition.

Operational performance was assessed with a focus on reliability improvement through network strengthening, automation, preventive maintenance and enhanced outage management. These measures are aimed at driving sustained improvements in SAIDI, SAIFI and AT&C performance parameters.

A key highlight of the review was the renewed emphasis on the SurakhyaKavach App, envisioned as a critical tool to ensure real-time safety, swift emergency response and coordinated monitoring of DISCOM field staff during outages, accidents and disaster-related power restoration, reinforcing the goal of zero fatalities and zero blackouts.

The Chief Secretary also encouraged a strong consumer-first approach, calling for further strengthening of customer care, expansion of digital service channels and faster, more responsive service delivery. Guidance was reiterated to continue driving operational excellence, leverage technology for superior outcomes and work closely with government stakeholders to deliver long-term value to consumers and all stakeholders across Odisha.