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Written By silkboard - 18 November, 2010

Bangalore BESCOM Energy Power Power Supply suggestion electricity

Action seems to be picking up at BESCOM, with a new Power Minister few months ago, and a new commissioner now. Pasting below, from an email exchange, some ideas for BESCOM and Energy situation in Bangalore, from Mr. MC.

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I would divide our power strategy into two parts:

1.) Demand Side Management
2.) Supply Side Management

In Demand Side Management, some of the following steps can be immediately taken:

a) Census of Irrigation Pumpsets and replacing IPs with new energy effecient ones. The TN Govt has pressed ahead with this scheme and is expected to save 6% of daily power consumption - and that is a lot!

Replacing IPs can also be financed via carbon credits - therefore for a less cost, we get great benefits in terms of power savings.

b.) Popularising LEDs, CFLs via carbon credits - BESCOM can launch a seperate scheme for selling LEDs - and can get carbon credits to cut the costs of the same. It is quite similar to the new Bachat Lamp Yojana, which is registered as the world's largest carbon credit scheme.

Ideally, if the millions of our shops can switch to LEDs from tube lights, we would dramatically reduce the power consumption per day. LEDs are very energy effecient.

c.) Mandatory Installation of Solar Water Heaters and replacing Domestic Water Pumps

d.) Interacting with BBMP to replace all the sodium halide lamps to LEDs

SUPPLY SIDE MANAGEMENT

1.) We have to maximise intake of power available from power exchanges from June - February because the power prices during these months falls due to various factors like monsoons, general lull in power consumption etc etc.

The idea is that our hydel capacity in Karnataka can be stored for some more time, so that we can tide over harsh summers using the hydel capacity we saved due to useing power from exchanges.

KERC had suggested this to ESCOMs sometime back - it is the same suggestion that i am backing now.

2.) War or T&D Losses - T&D (Transmission and Distribution) Losses *have* to be minimised. T&D is sometimes referred to as "Theft & Dacoity" losses as well! I am sure you know how important it is to eliminate the latter.

3.) Modernising billing system and payment collection.

4.) Credit Rating the ESCOMs

5.) Inviting Private Participation in Distribution Franchises (Tata Power and Reliance are a success in Mumbai - that model can be replicated in Bengaluru as well).

I can go on w.r.t suggestions, but what is needed is a direction & will from BESCOM.

COMMENTS

Solar Lamps/Lights in all government offices buildings

kbsyed61 - 18 November, 2010 - 18:22

1. Plan/policy to replace the existing florascent/sodium vapor lamps with solar lightings in exteriors areas of all the govt office buildings

2. Plan/Policy to replace the florascent/sodium vapor street lamps with solar lightings.

This would be a win-win situation, i.e power savings, employment generation, new industrial and economic activity.

 

 

BESCOM welcomes participation

Mani1972 - 19 November, 2010 - 13:06

Dear SB,

Thanks for the introduction and support. We, at BESCOM intend to work more closely with our customers, the citizens of Bangalore and 6 other districts. You are the reason and motivatin for our existence and progress.

We are initiated the co-operation process with the first meeting on 20th November, at 3.30pm, at our corporate office meeting hall. We have invited all those who took time to talk abut BESCOM before the public hearing before KERC. As praja has been recognised as a NGO working for social cause, we invite 3 representatives from Praja to participate in the meeting.

We all have ideas. We will also talk about implementation in a restricted government environment. When we both join hands, nothing is impossible.

Warm regards,

Manivannan

Specific areas where Praja can help!

kbsyed61 - 19 November, 2010 - 20:30

Manivannan sir,

Thanks for initiating the much needed public consultation reforms in BESCOM. I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

For the meeting, I am sure Praja members who are on ground would certainly avail the opportunity to attend the meeting tomorrow.

Since BESCOM is a huge organization and has many layers of operations, I am trying to understand where Praja members can pool their collective wisdom and help BESCOM.

Any specfic areas of BESCOM operations that Praja can help with?

-Syed

challenges before BESCOM

murali772 - 22 November, 2010 - 14:07

@ SB - who's Mr MC, whom you have quoted supposedly saying

Inviting Private Participation in Distribution Franchises (Tata Power and Reliance are a success in Mumbai - that model can be replicated in Bengaluru as well)

I have always maintained that's the way to go - check this.

Here, I have also tried to list the challenges before BESCOM.

Let's see how the PC experiment moves ahead. Whatever, with somebody like Mr Manivannan providing the thrust, it won't be lacking in sincerity.
 

CFL replacement subsidy - simple numbers

silkboard - 18 November, 2010 - 16:28

Includes some estimates.

  • Bangalore Population: 70 lakhs. =~ 15 lakh households. reduce to 10 lakh houses
  • 4 60 watt bulbs per house, burning for 1500 hours/year = 360 KWH/year
  • So, 10 lakh x 360 KWH/year = 3600 lakh KWH / year

CFL would cut this down to at least a fourth.

  • So energy saved or conserved = 2700 lakh KWH.

Now, some carbon numbers

As per EPA, 1.37 lbs of CO2 are created for every kWh burned
1 lbs = .000454 Metric Ton.
Assume market price for carbon at US $ 10 / MT of CO2.

So, 2400 lakh KWH would

  • Save 1.37 x 0.000454 x 2400 lakh = 1.68 lakh MT of CO2
  • That would get BESCOM 1.68 lakh x $10 = $ 16.8 lakh, or ~ $ 1.7 million.

That's Rs 8 crores for BESCOM if it can get all of Bangalore to switch to CFL, only by way of carbon credits. Will leave valuation of other savings and benefits to others. Can't these savings fund a solid subsidized CFL replacement program at Bangalore?

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