Minister, Power & Parliamentary Affairs, KG Kenye initiated the discussion to “power sector reforms by reviewing communitisation of electricity management in urban and rural areas under the national communitisation of public institution & services act 2002 (act no 2 of 2002) sensitisation and awareness thereof” on 29 August 2024.
Kenye said that the Power Sector is one of the main backbones of the State’s economy and functions as a commercial organisation/department of the State for delivering electricity as an essential public service. Kenye also remarked that unlike other service sectors such as Medical, Education, Health Engineering, etc, it is paramount to recoup its operating cost/expenditures from its consumers to ensure – stable, quality, affordable electricity and energy security so as to leverage all round socio-economic growth and infrastructural developmental activities.
Kenye said the proposed reforms measures before the house for sensitization and awareness of the members of the house and the public at large/civil societies of the proposed changes/amendments in the communitisation of electricity management model rules and review the roles of GBs, Ward/Colony councils to usher in growth in the state.
MLA, Nuklutoshi, participating in the discussion on "Power Sector Reforms by Reviewing Communitisation of Electricity Management in Urban and Rural Areas under the Nagaland Communitisation of Public Institution & Services Act 2002 (Act No. 2 of 2002) - Sensitization and Awareness," supported the Minister of Power, K.G. Kenye, by emphasizing that electricity is essential for everyone and must be used judiciously. He noted that the state has been facing significant financial losses for years due to poor electricity management, affecting the state's financial health. Nuklutoshi urged consumers to be mindful of their electricity usage and to move away from the misconception that government resources are free. He highlighted that the poor implementation of power sector reforms and the misuse of electricity contribute to inadequate revenue generation. He advocated for the adoption of smart metering as a viable solution for improving the power sector, stating that the communitisation of electricity has been unsuccessful, leading to losses for the government. He also pointed out that increased access to modern electronics in rural areas has resulted in excessive electricity consumption, further exacerbating the government's revenue loss due to the current communitisation policy.
MLA, Picto Shohe in support during the discussion pertaining to Power Sector Reform said the Power Department is trying to fill all the nooks and corners of the rural and urban areas with power supply to the homes and streets with all facilities, but due to shortage of manpower to check power theft and direct hooking of power, these facilities could not be offered and these acts have generated loss in revenue to the government. He therefore called upon to take stern measures against the culprits and also urged the government to implement smart prepaid meters in the urban areas with constitutionof the stakeholders.
Advisor, Tribal Affairs and Election, Tovihoto Ayemi also in support said that Power Department is a complex and technical for revenue collection. He said in the past, the government has spent a lot in power purchase and therefore rely on schemes which gave free electricity. He called the House to give time to educate our people to pay for electricity consumed and opined that prepaid metering should be installed.
MLA, Achumbemo Kikon partaking in the discussion supported the “Power Sector the reforms of communitization of electricity management in urban and Rural areas under the Nagaland Communitisation of Public Institutions & Services Act 2002.
Advisor industries & commerce, Hekani Jakhalu in support of K.G Kenye said that industries & commerce and Power department is inter-connect She also said with the advancements in technology, there is the option of adopting intervention such as pre-paid and smart meter in homes, transformers and sub-station which can effectively addressing the lack of man power shortages inaccurate billing and revenue collection while providing accurate real time information to the department, provide better power supply, better load management. She also mentioned that the department is both essential for the economy of the State, and that the new power reforms will be essential for the revenue generation of the state.
Advisor, Information Technology & Communication, Economics & Statistic, Evaluation, Sethrongkyu stated that the Act provided for the empowerment of the community and delegation of powers and functions of the State Government to the Local Authorities by way of participation of the community in matters connected with the management of local public utilities, public services and the activities of the State Government, connects with education, water supply, roads, power and other welfare and development schemes.
He pointed out that there is a general perception that it is the obligation of the Government to provide free or otherwise subsidized Power Tariffs, that in many cases, being simply stolen. He therefore urged the members to know that the Department of Power, unlike other Government establishments is a revenue earning Department and that the electrical energy supplied to consumers is to be sold, like any other essential commodity available in the market and the department to realize the cost from every consumer as it is not for free, either for the Government or for the consumers.
He also explained here that the Government has to buy the power to provide to the consumers but with the Communitisation of electricity in Nagaland, about 90% of the villages covered under the Act are being billed at an average monthly charge, and in some cases the monthly bare minimum charges rather than as per the actual consumption, and about 10% are being billed as per the actual consumption/meter reading.
Sethrongkyu suggested for the review of the Communitisation of Electriciy Management in Rural and Urban areas under the Act.