KERC Chairman calls for creating competition among ESCOMs

Bangalore, Mar 3 (UNI) Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) Chairman K P Pandey today gave a call for creating competition among the Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) in the State to make it more active.

Participating at an interactive meeting, organised by Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association here, he said the five ESCOMs created by the State Government were under the notion that they were subordinate companies of Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) and need not work as the State Government would come to their rescue by releasing subsidy whenever they incurred a loss.

''I really wonder how these ESCOMs can think in that way and not discharge their duties, which includes reducing transmission loss and ensuring uninterrupted power supply to rural areas.'' Seeking support from the consumers, Mr Pandey said ''KERC can be effective only if consumer groups support it and protest against ill-functioning of ESCOMs. Unless consumers raise their voice, KERC cannot do anything. It is necessary to keep a watch on the functioning of ESCOMs, make them responsible for their lapses and bring discipline in their functioning.'' He said KPTCL had sought an increase in tariff by 0.26 paise as it needed Rs 2,700 crore for investment.

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