Interim (or Mini) Distribution Franchisee through MoU route – new initiative from MSEDCL

MSEDCL has taken another step in appointing Interim (or mini) Distribution Franchisee in Multi-storey buildings in its continuous effort to reduce AT&C losses, improve customer services and collection efficiency. After the appointment of Distribution Franchisees for bigger circles like Bhiwandi, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Jalgaon, they are now appointing Mini Distribution Franchisee in areas such as - Rural / Hilly area having scattered network, IT- Park, SEZ, etc., Urban Township Area and others including small colonies (having 100 connections or more), by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

IUKAN Session 2 Proceedings: Understanding the utility customers - helping the utilities in better roll out of operationalize

With more and more utilities struggling to engage rightly with their customers, IUKAN 2013 was torch bearer in highlighting the best practices in providing insights into the whole customer engagement process. Some of the top leaders in the utility segment presented their views on how the customers form one of the most important, yet not recognized, pillars for the success of the utility operations.

The driving philosophy behind the session was to discuss the key challenges are utilities are facing in engaging with the customers. The session also talked of the vision for the utilities to have for its customer-engagement initiatives, in light of the fast changing nature of the utility customer.

IUKAN Session-1 Proceedings: Co-creating new PPP Design

Overall IUKAN 2013 Annual conference was a great success with 210+ participants from all around the Power and Water Distribution sectors. The Session-1 “Co-creating new PPP design together with Utilities” was focused upon addressing - What challenges and best practices can be learned from operational PPP models, to avoid initial pit falls, and influence new design considerations?

Following industry veterans and topics were covered in this session:

Evolution of PPP models in Utilities and key design challenges

• Mr. B. Rajesh, Associate Director, GRID, PwC

Base lining and Contract Designing Considerations

• Mr. Kamal Maheshwari, Director SPANCO 
• Mr. Amanullah, CEO SPML
• Mr. Pramod Sinha, Project Director, Vishwa Infra

Expediting knowledge transfer during Joint Operative Period

• Mr. Philip Nayak, General Manager - Franchisee Operations, Enzen
• Mr. Dattatray Wavhal, Director Finance, MSEDCL

Smart Staffing  for stability, growth and performance driven work culture

• Col. Rahul Gowardhan, Retd. Executive Director, HR, MSEDCL

Takeaways from the Vision session at IUKAN 2013

Being the first conference hosted by pManifold, IUKAN 2013 was surely exciting for all of us. I had the pleasure of being the host for the day and while all sessions brought exciting speakers together, the vision session brought together a set of individuals who brought not only experience but also - like we had expected - a clear vision for the Indian Power and Water Utility sector to emerge. While a lot of gems where shared in this session, let me take a shot to capture the most important points our speakers and guests shared with the participants that day. Here it goes in the sequence things unraveled.

Scale-up & Diversify Power Distribution PPP portfolio (Join IUKAN conference - 12th Feb, Delhi)

With developing ecosystem around Distribution Franchisee model (50+ RFPs/EOIs, 22+ start/in-operations in last 2 years), and push for further new roll-outs in light of re-structuring of Discoms, there is need for a careful discussion on scaling-up of right model going forward. It is with this objective that pManifold has organised 'India Utility Knowledge and Networking (IUKAN - www.iukan.in) conference on 12th Feb, Hotel Le Meridien, Delhi'. It shall focus on 'Challenges and Best Practices in Operational Roll Outs of Power & Water Distribution PPPs'. (Download detailed Schedule for topics and Speakers, and overall Brochure).

• Mr. Ajoy Mehta (MD, MSEDCL), Mr. Mohd. Suleman (Energy Secretary, MP) and Mr. Anil Razdan (Ex. Power Secretary, GoI) will share their reforms journey, and further road map for DF (Good opportunity to influence policy & RFP changes)
  
• Tata Power, Enzen, Essel, Spanco, A2Z, SMS groups sharing their Bidding, Roll-outs, Loss Reduction and first year mobilisation learnings (Learn winning bid and practical operational strategies)
  
• SBI Caps, IDFC to share risk framework of DF model and its cash flows, and what new financial structuring will increase Debt funding sources (Get linked for your new/existing project's Debt + Equity funding)
  
• PTC Financial Services to share its ideas on raising an Aggregator Financial Intermediary, to align various schemes and give Guarantees for attracting primary capital market funding into DF and new PPP models (Get easy access to DF financing for scale-up)
  
• CRISIL to share its framework for credit rating of DF project (Incorporate learned KPIs in your Performance Management and reduce interest rates on your term loans)
  
• MSEDCL's topmost HR senior to share his handling of Discom employees deputation with 4 DFs in Maharashtra (Understand Discom's perspectives on employee deputation, and engage your employees better)
  
• PwC and IL&FS to share learnings from Transaction Advisory and Project Management across different states and projects (Learn best practices in project management of DF)
  
• Bescom's MD, NDPL's Chief Commercial Officer, and Essel's Consumer Experience Officer to share their customer engagement strategies that helped them cut losses and improve collections (Learn how the most essential of economic assets, is the health and strength of the company’s relationship with its customers)
  
• ABB, Infosys, Secure, IBM, A2Z to share their step forward in offering 'Managed Services Model' to DF and new PPP operators (Engage them and other Vendors participating to build a strong Service Provider Ecosystem, to start with strong domain partners on day one, and low upfront capex)

We assure this is no Generic conference, and is super value-pack with top 30+ Speakers, and 200+ all stakeholders. Best is in addition to Power Distribution, you will learn about equally fast emerging Water PPP models, and further diversify your company's Utility portfolio, more so as same Tier-2 and 3 towns are undergoing both PPPs. (by estimates, India has touched less than 1% market share of PPPs in utilities).

Consider investing in this high quality cross-learning by attending this conference yourself, and also nominating colleagues from your organisation - Corporate Strategy, Bid Team, BU Head, Operations Head, Customer Head, Finance Head, Contracts & Procurement Head.

• First of its kind conference - you can interact, write to and speak to the Speakers prior to the conference. Infact our Speakers would love this, to get better grounded with DF challenges. (You can write to me your views, and I can appropriately connect you with our Speakers. Time being short, request you make use of this week and weekend for doing this on priority. This way, you can be assured that your views and observations will find importance at the conference.)
  
• ZEE News shall be covering the conference, and has interest to speak to Utility veterans. Let know your interest on the same, as it could be good opportunity to rightly position your company's unique efforts to operationalise the DF model. 

I am sure that you and your organisation will stand united and co-own this Industry effort to start re-constructing sustainability in our Utilities, and further improve end-services delivery to customers. 

I and you can (I-U-KAN)! 

Posted by: Kunjan Bagdia @ pManifold