Power regulatory commission summons all chief engineers
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 9
Taking a serious view of callous attitude of officers of the state electricity board towards implementation of the transmission plan, the state electricity regulatory commission has summoned all chief engineers concerned and asked them to explain why action should not be initiated against them under the provisions of Electricity Act 2003.

The commission had set up an empowered committee comprising representatives of the board and Himurja under the Power Procurement from Renewable Sources and Co-generation by Distribution Licencee Regulations for monitoring the progress of the transmission plan. However, the representatives of the board had not been attending the meeting of the committee as a result of which implementation of the plan could not be monitored. The tardy implementation of plan has been a major concern as a large number of small hydroelectric projects were nearing completion in the state but the board had failed to put in place the required transmission network for evacuation of power in place.

The officers on whom notices have been served include chief engineers in charge of transmission, operations, south zone, private sector projects, system and planning and the director of Himurja. They have been asked to submit their reply by March 13 and personally appear before the commission on March 16. They failed to attend the meetings of the committee convened on November 12 and December 9 last year and January 15 and February 21 in the current year.

The notice has been issued under Section 142 of the Act under which the commission has power to impose penalty for violation of any provision, non-compliance of its orders and causing hindrance in the functioning of the commission.

Under the regulation for evacuation of power from renewable sources and co-generation beyond the interconnection point, the board was required to formulate a plan for augmenting and establishing transmission and sub-transmission systems corresponding to the commissioning of the projects to match the establishment of the related evacuation system. Further, plan for projects expected to be commissioned during the subsequent five-year plan period was also to be prepared at least one year in advance of the corresponding plan, indicating the year-wise time lines.

In case the time lines laid down in the approved plan were not adhered to, the board will be liable to pay such penalty as the commission may impose. Over the next two years about 65 mini and micro-hydel projects with an aggregate capacity of over 250 MW are slated for completion but the board has so far not started work on ground for construction of transmission lines for evacuation of power from this project.