ToD metering: CERC endorses KERC stand

Pramod Dev, Chairman of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), on Wednesday endorsed the stand taken by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on time of the day (ToD) Metering.

Stating that the implementation of ToD is the first step towards migrating to a smart grid, Dev said, “ToD is a way to create awareness among consumers. It means using power during peak hours will be more expensive. This will promote planning of usage and efficiency among the consumers, particularly industries.”

Dev was speaking at a conference on ‘Energy Policies and Governance Issues’ at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). KERC on Tuesday had issued a notice to the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) over non-implementation of ToD tariffs in the city for high tension (HT) consumers.

With the advent of smart grids, even domestic consumers would learn to regulate and balance their electricity usage restricting the quantity of electricity they consume during the peak hours, Dev observed.

“We also support the introduction of a market system in which electricity will be traded as a commodity. This will help the electricity supply companies recover their losses. A tariff hike only attracts criticism from the consumers now,” he said.

Later, speaking to reporters, Dev said that the process of connecting the Southern Grid to the Northern Grid would be completed by 2014 and the formation of a solar corridor in the western part coupled with a wind corridor in the south would provide access to renewable energy to all states.

“The renewable energy generated will be fed into the grid. If there is a shortage of power in any state, the transfers can happen automatically then,” the chairman of the CERC added.