By IANS,
Chandigarh: If the Punjab government has its way of providing 1.92 crore compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in 48 lakh households by Dec 31 this year, the state will be able to save nearly 500 MW of power annually.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Wednesday announced the ambitious plan to save power in the state.
“The PSEB (Punjab State Electricity board) has taken a series of low-cost maintenance measures to install 1.92 crore CFLs in 48 lakh households in the state under the ‘Bachat Lamp Yojna’,” Badal told reporters here.
“The scheme involves replacement of incandescent lamps with high quality CFLs at subsidized rate of Rs.15 per lamp, against the market price of Rs.85-90, which would be borne by the consumers.”
The tenders would be finalised Oct 27 and the entire scheme would be completed by Dec 31 2009. It will result in net saving of 500 MW of power, Badal said.
The PSEB and the state government would implement various schemes to ensure reduction in demand of power by 1,850 MW which will help saving nearly Rs.8,000 crore by the end of 2010-11, said the chief minister.
Punjab has been reeling under a severe power shortage in the last few years with power cuts ranging from six to 16 hours in urban and rural areas everyday.
The PSEB has launched a scheme to install metres on poles and pillar boxes outside the premises of the consumers to ensure reliable power supply and proper voltage.
Around 32 lakh consumers will be covered under this scheme costing Rs.750 crore.
The scheme will help save power worth 950 MW and would be completed by Dec 31, 2010.
Among other steps, Badal said various schemes like shifting to high voltage distribution system, installing energy efficient pumps at tubewells, reducing transmission and distribution losses and improving consumer services through PSEB’s 50,000-plus staff, were being introduced.
Consumer friendly services like complaint call centres, new connections at home, simplifying departmental procedures and customer care centres were being introduced.
Punjab’s total power demand is 9,786 MW against the total installed capacity 6,841 MW with a shortfall of 2,379 MW. Power is being purchased from other states to overcome the deficit.
New power plants will start functioning in two-three years, Badal said.