The State is set to form a new utility for power transmission planning which will be carved out of Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL). The new utility State Transmission Utility will come into effect from January 6, 2013, according to KPTCL Managing Director P. Ravikumar.
Disclosing this to mediapersons after the public hearing held by the State power regulator in Bangalore on the transmission tariff hike plea sought by the KPTCL, Mr. Ravikumar pointed out that presently KPTCL was looking into transmission as well as transmission planning.
However, from next January, the STU will look into transmission planning. Other organisations including the KPTCL would have to bid for taking up transmission tasks, he noted.
Such a task had already been taken up at the national level, he said and noted that the States had been now given deadlines to implement the same.
With this, the power reforms are proceeding one more step. It may be noted that the Karnataka Electricity Board which was looking into all aspects of electricity earlier was bifurcated to form the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited that looks into power generation. Later, the KEB was unbundled further to separate transmission from distribution.
This resulted in formation of KPTCL and five Escoms. Now the State Transmission Utility is set to be carved out of the KPTCL.
Meanwhile, participating at the hearing, Mr. Ravikumar noted that the corporation was facing several challenges including that of getting clearances for setting up new power lines. It was difficult to get land from individuals for setting up transmission lines.
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