The Corporation of Cochin and local bodies in its vicinity can now expect optimum performance from streetlights in their jurisdiction as Kerala State Electricity Board will soon introduce an automated system which will be able to turn the streetlights on or off, depending on the amount of sunlight.
Nearly 3,000 automatic control devices will be placed on transformers across the 39 sections of KSEB covering the Corporation of Cochin, municipalities of Aluva and Kalamassery and parts of Angamaly, Tripunithura and Perumbavoor municipalities, KSEB sources said.
The most visible effect of the new facility is that the local bodies will be able to reduce their expenditure on street lighting, sources said. The new system will do away with wastage of energy as the present system, especially in the rural areas, depend on residents to turn the lamps on or to switch them off.
Besides, under the current arrangement, street lighting bills are paid by the local bodies on a per day per lighting system basis. The local bodies are bound to pay a fixed sum to KSEB whether the street lamps function or not. Under the present arrangements, the upkeep of the individual lighting system is the responsibility of the local bodies concerned.
The Corporation of Cochin, for example, pays a bill of around Rs. 1.15 crore per month to the electricity board for a total of 43,500 street lamps. The Corporation area has a total of 14 Electricity Board Sections.
At present, the individual street lighting systems are not metered for electricity consumption. However, under the new system electricity consumption will be metered and billed accordingly, sources added.
The government of Kerala had issued an order about two years ago to entrust the ownership and operation of the street lights to the local bodies. However, local bodies have been reluctant to operate the system for various reasons. A pilot system with automatic control has been set up at the electricity board office on Power House Road and is being monitored for its functioning.
