The importance of emphasizing solar energy projects cannot be overemphasized in this day and age when there is a growing demand to move away from environmentally harmful power projects. Unfortunately, the Kerala State Electricity Board is turning its back even on the rooftop Solar Project which needs to be implemented effectively. A large number of consumers showed interest in turning to solar because they are afraid of shocking electricity bills that will force them to sell their property. Not only could they save themselves from the heavy electricity bills, but they could also earn money by paying the excess electricity to the board. It's not possible that the people who have gone solar recently are reacting similarly to the people who turned to solar in the beginning. Electricity should be delivered during the day but the electricity given in return during the night has been charged excessive bills by the board.

KSEB has now decided not to allow power generation beyond 75 percent of the transformer capacity. This is against the Electricity Regulatory Commission's recommendation to allow up to 90 percent. Moreover, more than half of the rooftop solar applications are pending in KSEB offices without approval. Of the 75,000 applications received last month alone, not even half have been processed. There is a widespread complaint that those who have installed solar units are not given meters. There is a condition that the total solar power should be fed to the grid and the net meter for the same should be purchased from KSEB itself. As much power as solar installers feed into the grid during the day must be fed back to them at night.

Electricity price during the day is less than Rs.4 per unit and at night it is more than Rs.12. KSEB claims that due to this there will be a huge financial loss. However, when B Ashok was chairman of the board, three battery storage units to store electricity generated during the day were planned to be piloted. Tenders were called for the pilot project, but with a change of chairman, the project was abandoned. For the past few years, the board has not tried to generate more electricity or to modernize the distribution sector. The board which is being ruled by unions is more interested in buying power from outside at a higher price. Needless to say, the eyes of many will be on the commission received through this.

400 transformers dripped without taking the load. The board is not even ready to conduct a study on load flow in this situation. We had published the complaint of R Sreelekha, who was DGP in the state police, the other day. Instead of trying to solve the grievances of the complainants, the Board tried to respond to them with weak reasons. Kochi Nedumbassery Airport is fully solar powered. In Thiruvananthapuram, the plan to use solar in the city's homes under the smart plan is dragging on. The board itself can initiate solar power generation. It won't take long for KSEB to reach a bigger downfall than KSRTC if this overpaid overstaffed white elephant public sector is not reformed.