Consumer organisation opposes KPTCL's ERC before KERC

Bangalore, May 28 (UNI) The Karnataka Power Transmission Company Limited (KPTCL) today drew flaks for its proposal for investments submitted before the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC).

The consumer bodies, participating in the discussion before the 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 of 2008-2010 submitted by the KPTCL before the Commission, Mr Satyanarayana Udupa, representing Bharatiya Kisan Sangha, Udupi charged that KPTCL has made proposals to invest in various projects which were yet to be conceived.

Mr Udupa said that the KPTCL in its ERC had mentioned that it has plans to invest over Rs 160 crores to draw power from Nagarjuna Power Project which was still in conceptual stage. KPTCL which had got permission to spend Rs 1800 crores against the request of Rs 2700 crores from the KERC for 2006-07 was able to spend only Rs 865 crores.

He alleged that KPTCL, though spent thousands of crores on improving the Transmission loss, had failed to achieve the expected result. "Even though over the years the turnover of the company was increasing it was not able to come out of red and recording losses, exhibits its inefficiency and its cost should not be transferred to consumers. KPTCL was indulged in making investment on such projects which were not necessary and feasible." Former Karnataka Electricity Board, Chief Engineer, Mr Govindappa who also made submission before the KERC alleged that KPTCL instead of applying its mind on implementing various projects was largely depended the report submitted by its Consultants. The investment made by the KPTCL to reduce the transmission and distribution losses have not yielded substantial result and hence appealed 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 added.

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