Minister D K Shivakumar : Energy efficient pumpsets mandatory for new power connections

Bengaluru: Installation of energy efficiency irrigation pumpsets will be mandatory, for both domestic and commercial purposes, to get new electricity connections in the State and this will come into effect from June 1, 2017, according to Minister for Energy D K Shivakumar.

“The State government’s order making it mandatory for public and private sectors will lead to saving electricity consumption to the tune of 30%,’’ Minister Shivakumar said while speaking to media persons.

According to the minister, the Energy Department receives nearly 80,000 applications a year seeking new power connections to pumpsets. Currently, there are 25 lakh irrigation pumpsets and 1.5 lakh drinking water supply pumpsets.

Directions have been issued to all urban and rural local bodies to replace the existing old pumpsets installed for supplying drinking water with energy efficiency ones. The local bodies have to incur the expenditure of the replacement.

“The decision was taken based on the successful implementation of the pilot project in Doddaballapur (277 pumps), Bydagi and Nippani (590 pumps), and Malavalli (1,337 pumps).

For new power connections, all farmers have to purchase four or five star-rated pumpsets and its price is in the rage of Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 40,000 for 5 HP set, while the older IP sets cost around Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000. Each farmer has to pay Rs. 15,000, which includes Rs. 10,000 deposit, for new connections for ESCOMS,’’ the minister said.

He said all IP sets will be gradually replaced with energy efficient pumpsets. The IP sets consume around 39% of the total power supply. Free power costs Rs. 9,000 crore to the State exchequer a year.

He said five villages in each of the 224 constituencies in the State will be developed as model electricity villages comprising population of 1,000 to 2,000. MLAs have been told to identify villages.