Bengalureans not very keen to buy LED bulbs supplied by government

The sale of light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs is yet to gain pace in Bengaluru, almost four weeks after the State government started supplying them at low prices. The sales are better in Mysuru.

As on January 13, 2016, a total of 4.91 lakh LED bulbs have been sold in Karnataka; 3.31 lakh in areas under the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Ltd (CESC) and just 1.6 lakh in areas under Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), said an official in the Energy Efficiency Service Limited (EESL), a joint venture of public sector undertakings of the Union Ministry of Power.

The EESL conducted a study on the feasibility of selling LED bulbs in Bengaluru, Kalaburgi and Mysuru six months ago.

The scheme aims to popularise LED bulbs which are known for energy efficiency.
The sales started on December 14, 2015, in CESC which comprises the districts of Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Kodagu. The consumer base under CESC is 80 lakh.

The sales opened on December 24, 2015, in Bescom which covers the districts of Bengaluru Urban and Rural, Ramanagara, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Tumakuru, Chitradurga and Davangere.

The total consumer base (distribution potential) in Bescom areas is three crores; 65 lakhs in Bengaluru city alone.

Sales in other districts

The sales will shortly open in districts under Hubli Electricity Supply Company (Hescom), Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (Mescom) and Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company (Gescom). The distribution potential is 90 lakhs in Hescom and 75 lakhs in Gescom. The total distribution potential in Karnataka is 6.41 crores.

Under the scheme, domestic consumers of up to 2kW capacity are allotted five bulbs in Bescom, CESC and Mescom areas.

Those of above 2kW capacity can get up to 10 bulbs. In Hescom and Gescom areas, consumers of up to 1kW capacity get five bulbs and above 1kW capacity 10 bulbs.

N Mohan, Manager (Technical), EESL, said that around 70 per cent of domestic consumers had a sanctioned load of less than 2kW.

According to him, people in Bengaluru have many misgivings about buying LED bulbs at such low prices. They ask too many questions.

For example, they enquire about warranty, quality, duration and brightness of the bulbs. But once they make the first purchase, they often come back to buy more.

Nonetheless, there are few bulk buyers in Bengaluru, he added. There are 33 vendors in Bengaluru and 43 in Mysuru.

Sumana R, a resident of Malleswaram, said, “The bulbs are being sold in unsealed covers. I don’t want to buy such a product, what if it bursts or does not light up.”

Sumanth K, a consumer from Jayanagar, wondered what was the difference between the bulbs available in open market and those sold by the government, except the price.

Residents also complain that LED bulbs under the scheme are not easily available across Bengaluru as few centres sell them.