Incorrect strategies

There is a perception that the public sector generally does not fool people. But some actions of KSEB raise doubts that this perception is not correct. It is the practice of some large private companies not to keep their initial promises. After luring people with promises, these companies will impose new norms. KSEB also followed a similar method in the implementation of the rooftop solar project. Firstly, they came up with the project to help put up solar panels in order to fulfil a condition put forward by the Centre. The Centre had warned in its new electricity law that as part of the green energy initiative, every state should find five percent of its total electricity consumption from solar or wind and that failure to do so will result in fines for the state. KSEB devised the rooftop solar project to overcome this.

When the board put forward many promises such as a huge reduction in the bill, a good price for the excess electricity generated, and subsidies, many people believed in it and started installing solar on rooftops. KSEB showed its true colours after many people invested lakhs and installed solar panels. The board sought the Regulatory Commission's approval for a proposed amendment to charge bills from solar consumers like others and to cut 78 paise per unit of electricity sold. Along with this, the board also decided to replace the net meter installed at the house of the solar owners with a gross meter. If a gross meter is installed, the cost of solar electricity will be reduced to Rs 2.44 and secondly, the consumer will have to pay the entire electricity bill at first. If this had been said in the beginning, many people would not have fallen into this trap. Our correspondent PH Sanalkumar has done multiple reports pointing out all these things with causality. These reports have turned out to be beneficial for the people as the Regulatory Commission stopped KSEB's move to rob money from one lakh consumers who have installed rooftop solar in the state under the pretext of electricity metering. Our reports were able to expose and thwart an incorrect strategy of the board. The Regulatory Commission has clarified that it is enough to continue net metering for the time being and that rooftop solar consumers have the right to sell electricity to anyone else if they want. Although this is a huge relief for the consumers, we should remain alert. The board can come back again at any moment with yet another incorrect strategy.