THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Electricity Regulatory Commission has asked KSEB Limited to reverse punitive measures it had imposed on Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE), and Amal Jyothi College of Engineering (AJCE), Kanjirappally, for delay in installing solar power plants. The ERC essentially stated that even while strictly adhering to statutes, the public utility should have the larger picture in mind, which is the promotion of renewable sources of energy.
KSEBL had imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the two institutions for completing the installation after the specified time.
KSIE, a PSU, had registered with KSEBL for the installation of a 50 kW roof top solar plant at the Air Cargo Complex at Shangumukham in Thiruvananthapuram by remitting a registration fee of Rs 50000. KSEBL’s charge is that the installation was complete one year from the registration date. Rules say that it should be completed within six months of registration date. In the case of AJCE, they were unable to complete the installation on time because ANERT had discontinued the Solar Connect Programme 2015-16, under with the work was carried out, and began a new scheme. Under the new scheme, the 50 kW plant was replaced with the 100 kW plant. Though the registration fee was Rs one lakh, AJCE said it would pay Rs 50,000 as it has already paid Rs 50,000 under the earlier scheme. An adamant KSEBL insisted that the former amount could not be adjusted in the new scheme and demanded Rs one lakh.
A high registration fee was charged to keep out frivolous applicants. Also, there is a limit beyond which solar energy systems cannot be connected to a feeder. If frivolous applicants swell, they could block out genuine applicants from getting a chance to install solar plants. Both the applicants, the ERC said, were not frivolous applicants. “Further, KSEBL has also not reported any evidence to prove intentional blocking of the opportunity of solar installation by other eligible consumers,” the ERC order said. In the case of AJCE, the ERC said the installation got delayed not because any mistake on their part but because of a change of policy. It directed KSEBL to return the additional Rs 50,000 it had extracted from AJCE.
