The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : KSEB to ‘automate’ distribution in 3 cities

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Friday, Aug 17, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

KSEB to ‘automate’ distribution in 3 cities

Special Correspondent

Project to cost Rs. 280 crore

Three cities are Kochi, Kozhikode,
Thiruvananthapuram
Programme to be completed in two years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is embarking on a Rs.280-crore programme to “automate” the power distribution network in the cities of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.

The programme would mean automatic switchover to a backup distribution system in the event of a breakdown, Electricity Minister A.K. Balan said at a press conference here on Thursday.

Mr. Balan said the KSEB hoped to complete this programme in two years. All 11 kV lines in these three cities would be changed to underground lines with switchover lines backing up in the event of complaints with the main system. The programme for Thiruvananthapuram would entail an expense of Rs. 100 crore, that for Kochi Rs. 115 crore and that for Kozhikode Rs. 65 crore.

The Minister said these three cities would be perpetually safe from power disruptions with the implementation of the programme.

He said the KSEB had made a review of the performance of its power transmission and distribution networks during the monsoon, the most testing time of the year. The review showed that the institution had come a long way in avoiding long power disruptions.

Complaints in the cities were sorted out within hours and in most other places within a day. There had been a couple of bad cases involving disruption for 12 days in two localities in Palakkad district, he said.

The Minister said the KSEB was examining the feasibility of having the bimonthly power bills collected at the residences of its customers.

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