PSPCL launches 2nd phase of ‘Paani Bachao, Paise Kamao’ scheme

Our Correspondent

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Ludhiana, July 26

The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has launched the second phase of its pilot project — Paani Bachao, Paise Kamao — under which the agriculture power (AP) consumers on 250 feeders across the state would be entitled to direct benefit transfer for electricity (DBTE).

The scheme has been introduced as per directions of the state government vide notification no 1/18/2017-EB (PR)/528 dated June 10, 2019.

Through its commercial circular (no 40/2019 dated July 25, 2017), the PSPCL Chief Engineer, Commercial, said the scheme was being implemented for the sole purpose of saving precious groundwater.

“Due to the high consumption of groundwater in Punjab for the cultivation, agricultural consumers will be given incentive through this scheme to save water and also earn money for the same. The implementation of DBTE scheme will also result into crop diversification, accurate energy accounting, accurate transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and curbing of wasteful energy consumption,” says the circular.

The provision made in the scheme says that AP consumers (farmers) would be given a fixed electricity entitlement (kWh) for every month of the year which would vary by season (paddy and non-paddy) and would depend on sanctioned load of the consumer. The energy entitlement would be based on average consumption of the previous year.

The PSPCL officials said, “Accounting and settlement of consumption and saving will be done every two months. Any consumption measured from individual metres lower than the fixed settlement will be reimbursed at the rate of Rs 4 per kWh, while excess consumption above the fixed entitlement will attract no charge from the farmers. No bills will be issued and the farmers will be intimated through SMS about their saving bimonthly and electricity consumption fortnightly and the amount (of saving) will be transferred directly to the consumer’s bank account.”

Box: “Due to the high consumption of groundwater in Punjab for the cultivation, agricultural consumers will be given incentive through this scheme to save water and also earn money for the same. The implementation of DBTE scheme will also result into crop diversification, accurate energy accounting, accurate transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and curbing of wasteful energy consumption.” Circular

“Accounting and settlement of consumption and saving will be done every two months. Any consumption measured from individual metres lower than the fixed settlement will be reimbursed at the rate of Rs 4 per kWh, while excess consumption above the fixed entitlement will attract no charge from the farmers. No bills will be issued and the farmers will be intimated through SMS about their saving bimonthly and electricity consumption fortnightly and the amount (of saving) will be transferred directly to the consumer’s bank account.” PSPCL officials