What is IPDS?

Major Transmission Network in India (Source)

IPDS stands for Integrated Power Development Scheme which was launched by Narendra Modi in 2014. The component of IT enablement of the power distribution sector and strengthening of the distribution network in the form of RAPDRP was subsumed in this scheme and the scheme outlay was carried over to the new scheme of IPDS.
Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme or R-APDRP was initiated by the Ministry of Power for the sole purpose of the reduction in Aggregate Technical and Commercial losses (AT&C losses). To clearly understand R-APDRP first we have to know a bit about AT&C losses.

AT&C Loss and Its Reduction:

Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution System (Source)

Power generation is the backbone of a country’s economy. With natural resources, one generates power, and then it is transmitted to households and industries through transmission wires which then subsequently get distributed. It has three main parts

1. Power generation
2. Transmission
3. Distribution

Among the three categories power transmission has the most amount of losses almost 35% in India (varies from state to state: 13% in Pondicherry to 85.49% in Manipur: AT&C Loss, PFC Report 2012–13).

Distribution Loss Is Divided Into Two Parts:

1. Technical Loss
2. Commercial Loss

So by taking these two parameters mainly AT&C loss is calculated
AT&C Losses = {1 — (Billing Efficiency x Collection Efficiency)} x 100

It is the combination of energy loss (Technical loss + Theft + inefficiency in billing) & commercial loss (Default in payment + inefficiency in the collection).

Source: [npp.gov.in/glossary ]

How R-APDRP Has Helped in the Reduction of Losses and Increased Efficiency?

APDRP was launched in 2002–03 by the Ministry of Power(MoP) to reduce the loss due to power transmission and increase its efficiency. Later in July 2008, it was revised to R-ADPRP. It is for those urban areas where the population is more than 30,000.

This project was divided into two parts.

Part A:

This part includes baseline data establishment which is done with the help of GIS mapping and metering of distribution transformers and feeders and SCADA/DMS (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System/Data Management System) as well as power audit/accounting with an IT service center for consumers.
CyberSWIFT was given the opportunity to take up the GIS part which includes the DGPS survey, GIS data creation, and mapping for West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, etc.

Part B:

Here the motive was to renovate, strengthen, and modernization of the distribution system.

With this project, the government had aimed to reduce the power loss in that particular area by 15%.

CyberSWIFT has been working on R-APDRP since 2009 and so far has been implemented in West Bengal Assam and Mizoram.