The Hindu : Front Page : Power connection for 25,000 soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 09, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Power connection for 25,000 soon

Special Correspondent

New connections do not need new poles
40,000 applications will still be pending

A.K. Balan says KSEB's financial difficulties not to affect the quality of power supply system.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nearly 25,000 houses will get power connection in the State before the Vishu festival on April 15, Electricity Minister A.K. Balan said here on Thursday.

The connections being given now do not involve installation of new poles for electricity lines. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) will not collect the usual charge under its OYEC (own your electricity connection) scheme from these applicants, thereby forgoing an income of Rs.7.5 crore.

Addressing a press conference, the Minister said after the current round, only 40,000 applications would be pending with the KSEB. New electric posts have to be erected to attend to these applications. The KSEB had completed the tender proceedings to purchase posts to give power connections to these applicants. They will be given power connection within a couple of months.

Mr. Balan said the KSEB would soon provide power on demand to customers. During the last four years of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government rule, the KSEB provided power connection to 17.64 lakh consumers, he said.

Investment

Massive investment had gone into the power transmission sector too to improve the quality of power supply. Nearly a fourth of the total number of transformers in the KSEB's transmission network were installed during the last four years.

Describing the efforts the KSEB had taken to ensure customer satisfaction, Mr. Balan said the government's policy was not to allow the KSEB's financial difficulties to affect the quality of the power supply system.

The Minister said the KSEB had convened a meeting of representatives of industries last month to apprise them of the expenses involved in purchasing power from outside sources. They had agreed to share the burden by paying for 20 per cent of their power consumption on the actual cost of the power being bought by the KSEB from outside. The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission, however, had allowed the KSEB to charge the increased rate only on 10 per cent of the consumption.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page