State set to switch over from bulbs to LEDs

The energy department, which is grappling with an acute power crisis in the State, hopes to save 800 to 900 MW per day by implementing the Centrally-sponsored Demand Side Management Efficient Lighting Programme (Delp).

Delp aims to replace the existing streetlights and all domestic bulbs with LEDs through the Energy Efficiency Service Limited (EESL), a Central agency. The project is likely to be rolled out within six months.

There is approximately 10 to 15 lakh streetlights in the State, including 4.5 lakh in Bengaluru and 65,000 in Mysuru.

Urban local bodies (ULBs) will have to pay the installation and maintenance cost of the LEDs to EESL over a period of seven years. The ULBs are likely to save at least 50 per cent of energy, plus the power charges.

Under the domestic lighting programme, EESL will call for tenders, following which bulbs will be supplied to the consumer, who will be required to pay Rs 106 against the market rate of Rs 350 and above, per bulb.

By switching over, the consumer will be saving one thirds of the energy. A consumer can purchase a maximum of 10 bulbs. A meeting with LED manufactures is scheduled for October 5.

Losing patience
On Tuesday, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar said that while the demand stands at 7,500 MW, the department is currently supplying only 6,152 MW. At present, the department is purchasing 1,063 MW.

“Both the consumers and I are losing patience. Efforts are being made to purchase maximum power to put an end to this problem. I don’t want to effect load shedding as it makes me unhappy,” he added.

Reacting to BJP’s dig at the government, the minister said the Centre had allocated only 200 MW to Karnataka from the southern grid. In doing so, it has reduced 50 MW each to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, 80 MW to Tamil Nadu and 20 MW to Kerala.

While the scheduled supply from the Central grid to Karnataka was 2,388 MW, the State is getting only 1,736 MW, he said.

Solar Park
Shivakumar said the world’s biggest Solar Power Park would come up at Pavagada. The department would launch the project by October 30. The 2,000 MW park will be set up in 12,000 acres of dry land.

Farmers will lease their land to the department for 30 years. To start with, the department will pay them Rs 21,000 per acre annually, following which there will be a five per cent increase every two years.

The Rs 20,000 crore project will be implemented on a 50:50 cost sharing basis between the Centre and the State.

He also said that the department had proposed to set up a 350 MW gas-based power plant at Yelahanka. The Rs 1,510 crore project will be implemented by Gail.