Bangalore Electricity Supply Company charts a bright 2012 plan

Ushering in the New Year on a brighter note, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has made grand plans to conserve energy. With power generation becoming a constraint, Bescom has decided to make energy conservation education top priority.

Bescom’s first step is an advertising campaign. “We have planned an advertising campaign on TV. It will show how switching off various equipment during peak hours can help students study in rural areas,” said L Ravi, Bescom GM (HRD).

The advertisements will be available on YouTube too.

There’s more in stock for the New Year. Bescom has decided that if prepaid meters are a success, it will not press for an increase in power tariff.

“We believe prepaid meters are going to help in decreasing electricity consumption and bring awareness among the public. If this (experiment) sees (sic) success, then we will not have to increase tariff,” Ravi added.

Finally, in order to bring in transparency, Bescom is planning to restructure the organisation. “We will begin consumer interaction meetings, which will be video-graphed. These will be uploaded on YouTube and on the official website,” he said.

Bescom has 106 offices and they will conduct monthly interaction with consumers from January. The aim is to reduce the number of complaints.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission has released Rs1 crore to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum as a number of cases being filed have increased.

“We will publish a handbook on the CGRF’s functions, procedures to approach them and the availability of appeal to the ombudsman if grievances are not redressed,” he said.