Rs 7,113-crore subsidy for IP sets, power schemes

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has fixed Rs 7,113 crore as subsidy for irrigation pumpsets (IP sets), Bhagya Jyothi and Kuteera Jyothi for 2015-16, up from the existing Rs 6,308 crore.

Speaking to reporters, KERC chairman Sreenivasa Murthy said that the Commission had suggested to release the subsidy amount of 10 per cent every month, while the last instalment of 10 per cent shall be withheld till the last quarter of the financial year.

“This will be released only after the escoms conduct a energy audit every month and submit a report in this regard,” he said. He said that the remaining 10 per cent of the subsidy amount would be released only in February after they submit the audit report.

Stating that the escoms have been directed to meter all the distribution transformers and assess the electricity going out and the actual consumption by the IP sets, the chairman said that the compulsory auditing is in the wake of several complaints by the farmers regarding poor power supply.

The Commission, which has fixed a target for the escoms to bring down the total distribution loss to about 14.5 per cent and to bring down the transmission loss by about 3.8 per cent, said that the escoms which implement the order would be rewarded with a financial incentive, while those escoms which fail to do so would be penalised.