The Hindu : Kerala News : No major changes likely in power supply code

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 24, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

No major changes likely in power supply code

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, DEC. 23. The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) is likely to adopt the Electricity Supply Code without major alterations, as few notable suggestions came at a public hearing of the Commission held here today. The State-level hearing followed a workshop meant to create public awareness about changing rules of power supply in the State.

The Commission Chairman, M.K.G. Pillai, and member C. Balakrishnan led the hearing held at the Government Guest House. Although many of the 50-odd people who came for the hearing had individual complaints to raise, there was consensus on blaming the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for collecting rent on metres.

The KSEB in gets about Rs.100 crores by charging a single-phase consumer Rs.10 and a three-phase consumer Rs.20 as monthly metre rent. The Commission agreed with the consumers' claim that collecting metre rent was unjustifiable.

Own meter

But the Commission pointed out that the upcoming Kerala Electricity Supply Code 2004 would have provision for the consumer to install own meter. "There is no question of paying any rent then," said Mr. Balakrishnan.

However, the onus will be on the Commission to find a way out to offset the revenue shortage of the KSEB.

Mr. Balakrishnan said people would be allowed to draw lines using licensed contractors as part of expediting the process of giving power connections. "For us, the KSEB and consumers are equal. We are the regulators; people can tell us, and we will get it done," said Mr. Balakrishnan.

The new power supply code will make it compulsory for the KSEB to pay interest on the amounts collected from consumers.

The Commission did not budge under people's demand to do away with the fixed minimum charge being levied by the KSEB from industries and commercial establishments.

"It is a scientific method of tariff collection," said the Commission, pointing out that it cost the KSEB a fixed amount of money to make available the power at the consumer's switchboard. "Nowhere in the world is fixed charge considered unscientific," observed the Commission. The final draft of the Electricity Supply Code will be published within a month after considering all suggestions, however minor they are, made by the public.

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