<span style="color: #222222;">The Government today said that UDAY scheme has helped in reducing losses of power distribution companies by 22 per cent. Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour, Power Minister R.K. Singh said electricity bills of over 41 thousand crore rupees are pending with government departments. This is one of the main reasons for the losses. He said states have been asked to switch to smart metering in the next three years to check power theft and improve the billing and collection mechanism. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' Mr Singh said there is no proposal under consideration for shifting the high tension lines to underground cables. Mr. Singh added that underground cables will be limited only to urban areas. </span>