Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission Announces Statewide Software Integration for Electricity Companies
The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has initiated a significant technological overhaul by starting the process to install a single, unified software system across all electricity supply companies (escoms) in the state. KERC chairperson P Ravikumar confirmed that this initiative is underway and will be implemented in the near future, marking a pivotal step toward streamlining operations and improving service delivery.
Public Hearing Exposes Deep-Rooted Issues in Hescom's Performance
Chairperson Ravikumar made this announcement while presiding over a public hearing on the Hescom annual performance report (APR) application for the financial year 2024-25. The hearing, held at Hescom headquarters in Hubballi, brought to light substantial dissatisfaction among stakeholders, including farmer leaders, business professionals, and consumers from the seven districts under Hescom's jurisdiction.
Participants voiced strong concerns over persistent performance gaps and what they described as negligence by officials. The meeting served as a platform for airing grievances that have long plagued the region's electricity infrastructure.
Specific Complaints Highlight Systemic Failures
Farmers' Plight: Siddappa Betageri, a farmer from Kalaghatagi, highlighted critical failures in maintenance protocols. He pointed out that despite a rule mandating the replacement of burnt-out electrical transformers within 72 hours, officials consistently fail to adhere to this timeline. Additionally, damaged pump sets have remained unreplaced for over a month, with officials showing little to no responsiveness to these urgent issues.
Business Challenges: Businessman Mallesh from the Gamanagatti industrial area in Hubballi detailed how unreliable power supply is severely hampering business operations. "Only if there is quality power supply, businesses can grow," he emphasized, underscoring the direct link between infrastructure and economic development.
Echoing this sentiment, businessman Arvind Pai from Kumta expressed frustration over untimely power supply and ineffective grievance redressal. "Consumers are not getting power supply on time. Even when the problem is raised with senior officials, no solution is being found," he stated.
Administrative Shortcomings: GG Hegde Kadekodi from Sirsi criticized the structural inefficiencies within Hescom. He noted that while electricity consumer meetings are organized in the Sirsi division to address complaints and suggestions, officers are often absent due to staff shortages. "If an officer is given 2-3 responsibilities, how can he manage?" he questioned, pointing to overburdened personnel as a root cause of poor service.
Financial Oversights and Future Directions
In response to these concerns, Hescom managing director Vaishali ML provided financial insights, revealing a discrepancy in expenditures. According to the APR, the approved expenditure for Hescom-related works in the financial year 2024-25 was Rs 11,335 crore. However, the actual expenditure escalated to Rs 12,496 crore, indicating potential mismanagement or unforeseen costs that warrant further scrutiny.
The public hearing not only exposed ongoing challenges but also set the stage for the upcoming software integration, which aims to address some of these systemic issues by enhancing coordination and efficiency across Karnataka's electricity network.
