Labhaprabha –The Illusion???
By Mary Honey, Research Associate, CPPR
I am
not a typical cynic who always opposes new government initiates by providing
false and useless statements. But sometimes I have raised questions to get a
clear cut answer. I was wondering the durability of the efforts done by the ‘most
efficient’ Kerala State Electricity Board in bringing out the new initiatives
for energy conservation.
Recently
on 23rd March 2013 the Kerala State Electricity Board switched to
“Labhaprabha” the brand new name set up for its energy conservation scheme
which lasts till 31st May through its first phase. This scheme which was meant for domestic consumers, guaranteed
gifts and other incentives for saving electricity. The first step towards
participating in the scheme was to get oneself registered. For this one need to
send the SMS with the following details ,KSEB <space> Section code
<space> Consumer number to 9287088808.The participant will immediately be informed of
his/her average consumption through SMS and
phase by phase instructions as to when meter readings should be taken and tips
for saving energy send through SMS. If the consumer wins prizes, he/she will be
intimated via SMS.
The
energy credits programme is proposed to address all 85 lakh domestic consumers
in the State. Half of the earnings made through savings
under the scheme will either be returned to consumer or rewards of equivalent
value made available to him/her. The
KSEB declared rewards for up to Rs2 crore as part of the Labha Prabha campaign
These include 50,000 compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs every week, solar
lamps for every 1,000 consumers, table lamps, light emitting diode (LED) tubes
and bulbs, water heaters, and T-5 tube lights. The bumper prize will be in the
form of a 1-kilowatt (KW) solar installation (Rs1.25 crore) for the first 100
consumers who make maximum energy savings.
The
KSEB is also launching another campaign - ‘No Loadshedding Campaign’ under
which consumer groups like residents’ associations can escape from the loadshedding
by saving electricity. Places coming under any of the KSEB feeders will be
exempted from power restrictions if consumption is reduced by at least 10 per
cent.
Statistics
shows that 8532111 domestic consumers comes under this scheme, 1221370 domestic
consumers are out of this scheme because of bad meter ,while 1177276 and 44094
single phase meter and 3phase meter respectively does not work. This is also a major issue to
be addressed along with this scheme and campaign.
Conditions like weather extremes, size
of family, change in living habit, use of old or defective appliances etc
influence the high consumption of electricity in every household. While, these
are some of the factors that are not under the control of KSEB, the Board need
to proactively engage in its duty of distributing power. People in Kerala are
already facing power disruption for 2 hours daily with prior information from
KSEB and without information many a times in between the day; owing to lack of
pro-activeness and planning.
But is
this camouflaging the inefficiencies of KSEB? It is the responsibility of the
government to provide electricity as per demand for reasonable price. But it
seems like we are all extravagant in misusing the power KSEB providing us for
free. Needless to say the KSEB fail’s to plan and supply according to consumer requirements
needs. Just compare the developmental projects/malls/industries that was set up
in the state within last 5 years, and can see the gigantic boost that
transformed the state into a commercial center. These developments and its
related issues like shortage of electricity should have been foreseen by the
KSEB and must adopt the required strategies to rise above the concern.
Though
Kerala gets abundant rainfall every year, the state cannot wholly depend on
hydro electric projects as during summer, water in dams and reservoirs will get
dried up and generators will not work. Maybe ‘Right to Electricity’ can be seen
effective if the state monopoly of electricity is been privatized! Electricity
for every household will be inclusive only if KSEB would be able to provide
ample electricity (Though it should not be KSEB all the time). The government
must encourage with the new innovative ideas and solutions from the private
parties for solving the energy crisis and thus can put an end to the KSEB model
of solving energy crisis by providing free ‘ power cuts’ all the day
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