Uniform service charges to bring clarity to LT, HT power connections: TGSPDCL CMD
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Chairman and MD of TGSPDCL Jitesh V. Patil addressing the media in Hyderabad on Wednesday (September 30). | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Jitesh V. Patil said the uniform service line charging system for low-tension (LT) and high-tension (HT) electricity connections would provide consumers with clarity on the charges payable in advance, while eliminating uncertainty arising from case-by-case estimation of service line costs. He thanked the TGERC for introducing what he described as a fair and transparent system for industries, commercial establishments, households and other consumers.
Addressing a media conference at the TGSPDCL headquarters on Wednesday, Mr. Patil said the estimated cost of HT connections earlier varied depending on the location of the service, distance over which the line had to be extended and transformer capacity. The new system provides fixed charges based on the sanctioned load, he said.
The Uniform Service Line Charge (USLC) fixed by the Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission (TGERC) for 11-kV HT connections is ₹4,078 per kVA. Development charges, security deposit and other applicable expenses would be levied as per the prevailing rules.
The USLC system is applicable to eligible HT connections supplied through a common feeder in the existing 11-kV electrified network and located within one kilometre of the existing network. Connections requiring line extensions beyond one kilometre will continue to be sanctioned on an estimate basis under the existing rules.
Chairman and MD of TGSPDCL Jitesh V. Patil addressing the media in Hyderabad on Wednesday (September 30). | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
The new system also provides standard rates for overhead and underground networks, eliminating variations in estimated costs. Earlier, the difference in estimates could be as high as 30% to 40%, Mr. Patil said.
He said that in the case of a 200-kVA HT connection, for instance, TGSPDCL would undertake the necessary network expansion and feeder-related works after the consumer paid the prescribed uniform service line charge.
Mr. Patil said the company was also making details of the power network available through GIS-based mapping. However, final technical decisions would be taken by TGSPDCL based on load feasibility and network capacity.
Online services would enable consumers to track the status of their applications, ascertain the charges payable and know the stage at which their files were pending. This would make the process of granting connections faster and more transparent, he said.
Load-based uniform service line charges have also been introduced for LT consumers. The simplified procedure would cover domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural and electric vehicle charging connections, among other categories.
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