Minister for Energy D.K. Shivakumar said on Sunday that the government has decided not to provide permanent electricity connection to buildings which do not have occupancy certificates issued by the civic body to testify that the building meets safety standards and is free from violations, including encroachment.
Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Shivakumar pointed out that electricity supply companies (Escoms) would give temporary power connections to buildings based on the licence for construction and building plan approved by the Urban Development Department. Henceforth, if temporary connections are to be made permanent, the building owners must obtain occupancy certificates from the Urban Development Department.
The assistant executive engineers of the respective sub-divisions of Escoms would be held responsible if they gave permanent connections to buildings which did not have occupancy certificates, he said.
The decision was taken as the Urban Development Department has sought the cooperation of the Energy Department to prevent illegal buildings from mushrooming in urban areas. This would mean that owners of buildings without occupancy certificates would have to pay a higher tariff for power consumption as the charges for temporary power connection are much higher than the domestic tariff.
Mr. Shivakumar said that a six-member committee headed by the respective MLAs would be formed in each Assembly constituency to redress complaints of consumers, power theft and misuse of electricity. The committee would have consumers as members in addition to officials and it would meet once in two months.
In addition to the committee, another six-member committee headed by an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) would be formed at the section-level of Escoms. The committee should meet once in two months to redress complaints of consumers.
The Minister said that all Escoms have been instructed to have a transformer bank. They have been asked to replace defective transformers within 24 hours in urban areas and within 72 hours in rural areas.
Mr. Shivakumar said that 3,000 MW power is expected to be generated additionally in the State by 2016.
Of which, 2,000 MW would come from coal and the remaining from solar. Coal power generation units would be set up at Bellary, Raichur and Kudgi, he said.
