Mandi: Fourteen towns, including Mandi, Sundernagar and Kullu, in the state are set to get rid of the frequent breakdown of power supply and low voltage as the state electricity board is overhauling its jaded electrical and distribution system under the centrally sponsored Accelerated Power Development and Restructuring Programme. Funded by the Rural Electrification Corporation, Government of India, the first phase of the programme in the state will be carried out in 14 towns and may cost over Rs 200 crore. The project aims at cutting down the transmission and distribution losses to below 15 per cent and taking care of the low voltage and erratic power supply in these 14 towns. However, according to engineers, the REC has put a condition to the state board that if it does not succeed in cutting down the transmission and distribution losses and providing good voltage, the funds would be treated as loan. The engineers said the board had to recover outstanding arrears of over Rs 100 crore from faltering government departments to better its financial health. The SE, Mandi Central Circle, Kapil, said a 22 kV system would be upgraded, overhead wires would be replaced by insulated “airbunched” cables and at places these would be replaced by underground cables. As many as 58 transformers would be replaced by new ones, he added. To give easy access to the staff for billing, private consumers would be given new meters that would be installed outside the houses. It would save time and speed up the billing system. Kapil said they had submitted a Rs 24-crore project for Mandi town. The company would complete the work in one-and-a-half-years’ time in Mandi, Sundernagar, Kullu, Bilaspur and Hamirpur in the first phase. Chief Engineer, Operation, RS Rana said the work in 14 towns would be carried out by each circle. The other towns included Paonta Sahib, Baddi and Barotiwala in the industrial corridor, he added.