Report on empanelment of energy service companies released

New Delhi, Nov 25 (UNI) Electricity consumption in commercial sector accounts for nearly eight per cent of the total consumption in the country and is the fastest growing end-use sector, growing at more than 11 per cent a year.

"This rapid growth is largely on account of the growth of the services sector and the increasing use of energy intensive appliances and technologies," Power Secretary Anil Razdan said here last evening, while releasing a report on 'Empanelment of Energy Service Companies' (ESCOs).

The report seeks to promote large-scale implementation of energy conservation and energy efficiency measures in existing facilitates through the ESCO route.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has now accredited 35 ESCOs through an accreditation process carried out by CRISIL and ICRA, which helps in providing the technical and financial due diligence necessary to create a sense of credibility among the prospective building owners who are likely to secure the services of an ESCO.

Regarding efficiency in energy consumption, the secretary stated that BEE has taken up the task of institutionalising energy efficiency services and promoting energy efficiency delivery mechanism through the development of a platform for ESCOs.

In addition, BEE has taken up a major initiative for benchmarking energy use in commercial buildings both for public and private sectors with a goal to establish a framework to standardise energy data collection, he added.

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