Energy efficiency study of Uttarakhand India electric power utilities based on Data Envelopment Analysis

ABSTRACT

The sparsely populated hilly areas are most prone to the power cuts and low voltage power supplies if the national grids fall any short of electricity demand. Therefore the present study evaluates the decadal efficiency of state-owned electric utility facilities from 2009 to 20019, situated in different geographic terrains, in Uttarakhand state of India. The productive efficiency of the Electricity Distribution Divisions (EDDs) of Uttarakhand state was evaluated in a nonparametric method of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The obtained results indicate the performances of some EDDs are not up to the mark and suffer from low technical efficiency. The average Technical efficiencies are recorded as low as 0.5 in 2014–15; lowest for the EDDs located in hilly terrain with a value of 0.23 in 2014–15. An improvement trend in efficiency was noted with rearrangement of EDD during 2015–2017. Based on these findings, this study identifies potential for improvement. The recommendations and policies framed should keep geographical location into consideration. Region-specific policy interventions can help the state to achieve the efficient power goals by reducing electricity losses and improving overall efficiency.

KEYWORDS:

• Data Envelopment Analysis
• energy efficiency
• Electricity Distribution Division
• energy policy
• energy management

Acknowledgments

This research work was financially supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the grant of National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS). Special thanks to the Zonal headquarters and State headquarters of Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited for sharing the valuable data.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported as a  Himalayan Fellowship projects under National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) funded by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoFCC), Govt. of India.

Notes on contributors

Tripti Mishra

Dr. Tripti Mishra, Research Associate at Doon University, working on the energy efficiency measurement of Uttarakhand state of India under the NMHS fellowship.

Ujjwal Kumar

Dr. Ujjwal Kumar, faculty at School of Environment and Natural Resources Doon University. He specialized in, Statistical/Time Series Modelling and Forecasting, Data Assimilation of surface & satellite data, Global & Regional Chemical Transport Models (CTMs), Air Quality Modelling/Forecasting, tropospheric O3 and its precursors, Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Theory.

Kusum Arunanchalam

Prof Kusum Arunachalam, head of School of Environment and Natural Resources, Doon University.She is also a fellow of international Society of Tropical ecology and National Environmental Science Academy.

Vijay Sridhar

Dr Vijay Sridhar, faculty at School of Environment and Natural Resources Doon University. He specialized in, Ambient air quality monitoring and assessment, Chemical characterization and source receptor modelling of Pollutants (PAHs, VOCs, Trace metals, carbonaceous matter) in air, water and soil & Biota.