Consumer organisation opposes KPTCL's ERC
Bangalore, May 28 (UNI) The Karnataka Power Transmission Company Limited (KPTCL) today drew flak for its investment proposals submitted to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC).
The consumer bodies, participating in the discussion before KERC Chairman K P Pandey, pulled up KPTCL for lagging behind in completing various projects undertaken, including improving distribution system.
Speaking on the Expected Revenue Charges (ERC) for the period 2008-2010 submitted by the KPTCL before the Commission, Mr Satyanarayana Udupa, representing Bharatiya Kisan Sangha, Udupi, charged the KPTCL with making investment proposals in yet to be conceived projects.
Mr Udupa said the KPTCL in its ERC had mentioned it had plans to invest over Rs 160 crore to draw power from Nagarjuna Power Project which was still in conceptual stage. KPTCL, which had got permission to spend Rs 1,800 crore against the request for Rs 2,700 crore from the KERC for 2006-07, was able to spend only Rs 865 crore.
He alleged the KPTCL, which spent thousands of crores on improving the transmission loss, failed to achieve the expected result.
''Even though over the years the turnover of the company has been increasing, it has not been able to come out of red and been recording losses which exhibits its inefficiency. Its cost should not be transferred to consumers, he said.
''KPTCL has indulged in making investment on such projects which are not necessary and feasible,'' he added.
Former Karnataka Electricity Board Chief Engineer Govindappa, who also made submission before the KERC, alleged the KPTCL, instead of applying its mind on implementing various projects, was largely depending on the report submitted by its consultants.
The investment made by the KPTCL to reduce the transmission and distribution losses had not yielded substantial result, hence, appealed to the KERC not to entertain certain investment proposals made by the KPTCL.
''Despite making heavy investment on improving the transmission losses, it still remains around 36 per cent,'' he claimed.
The KPTCL will present its reply tomorrow to all the objections and submissions made by various organisations and individuals on its proposal of ERC which was presented for KERC's approval.
UNI