The Hindu : New Delhi News : BSES launches power saving initiative

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Wednesday, Oct 25, 2006
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New Delhi

BSES launches power saving initiative

Staff Reporter

Consumers being offered "buy one CFL bulb, get another absolutely free" scheme

NEW DELHI: While makers of consumer products are known to come out with lucrative offers and discount schemes to woo customers, in a first-of-its-kind initiative in Delhi the power distribution company BSES has joined hands with a manufacturer of CFLs to provide its consumers with a "buy one CFL bulb, get another absolutely free" scheme as part of its energy conservation initiative.

Stating that its offer will help save electricity and money for its consumers, BSES said that under the scheme there would be no restriction on the number of CFL bulbs a customer can buy. Moreover, all CFLs will have a one-year replacement warranty. The scheme will run till December 31.

On what prompted the scheme, BSES said that electricity is a scare resource and more so in Delhi where power shortages touched 900 MW this summer. Even though the availability of power had improved, it said, it is unlikely that the growing demand would be fully met during the next few years and so the need of the hour is to use electricity judiciously by conserving power.

Recently the Delhi Government had promulgated two notifications making the use of solar heating and CFL bulbs compulsory in commercial buildings. BSES, as Bhagidari partner of the Delhi Government, has therefore come out with this innovative scheme for the ongoing festive season.

The scheme will not only help conserve electricity but also bring about substantial monetary savings to consumers.

A recent study has shown that Delhi can save around 450 MW of electricity by simply switching over to CFL bulbs. An additional 175 MW can be saved by just switching off electrical gadgets from the mains, instead of keeping them in the stand-by mode, said Arun Kanchan of BSES Yamuna Power Limited.

Under the scheme, customers will be offered 11 watt, 15 watt and 20 watt CFL bulbs. For making the purchase, people will have to visit any of the 33 customer care centres or 32 select cash counters and show a copy of their last paid bill from September 1 onward.

To facilitate the offer, BSES has tied up with Indo Asian, one of India's largest manufacturers and exporters of CFL bulbs. Special kiosks are being set up by the manufacturer at all 65 customer touch points from where the customers will be able to avail of the offer. Three mobile vans will also be pressed into service.

"Savings of up to Rs. 391 per year can accrue with just one CFL bulb. Imagine the magnitude of savings accruing to a family if all the bulbs are replaced with CFLs!" said BSES Rajdhani Power Limited CEO Lalit Jalan.

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