The Hindu Business Line : `Affordable power to weaker sections is a viable option'

IT is possible for Kerala to achieve commercial viability in the power sector while simultaneously ensuring that affordable power is available to poor households, according to Mr T.L. Sankar, Advisor-Energy Group, Administrative Staff College of India. He made this observation during a presentation on `Power reforms in Kerala: Exploring new approaches under the Electricity Act 2003'.

According to him, if this strategy is followed, the State will be able to overcome most hurdles confronting the power sector in about seven years. The need is to prepare a plan that looks at, among other things, reducing transmission and distribution losses to around 18 per cent, while also reducing the subsidy requirements to near zero, he said. Annual consumption growth rates should also be pegged at reasonable levels, he added.

In order to implement these measures, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) must look at a clutch of measures including options such as consumer mapping and energy accounting, said Mr Sankar. Once the mapping exercise has been completed, the electricity meters of all consumers should be changed to more accurate electronic meters, he added.

Similarly, detailed accounts of power consumption should be maintained and evaluated, he said. Improvements in performance should be rewarded, while non-performance should be penalised, he added.

As operating costs in Kerala's power sector are higher than that in other States, efforts must be taken to control costs by rationalising the tasks of employees, he declared. The KSEB should also look at measures such as long-term, short-term and spot purchases of power to keep a check on power purchase costs, said Mr Sankar.

Creation of strategic business units and the establishment of a task force to monitor the reform process were some other measures recommended by him.

The presentation on power sector reforms in Kerala was organised by the Thiruvananthapuram-based Centre for Management Development (CMD) as part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations. Mr V. Ramachandran, Chairman, CMD and Vice-Chairman State Planning Board was among those present on the occasion.

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`Affordable power to weaker sections is a viable option'