KUSUM scheme tops agenda of ministers’ meet next month

LUCKNOW: Implementation of the Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM), the Central government’s new ambitious scheme tops the agenda of the energy ministers’ conference to be held on October 12 in Gujarat , according to the ‘meeting agenda’ circulated to the state’s energy department here.

The two-day conference has been called by the Union ministry of the power and renewable energy to discuss burning issues pertaining to generation, transmission, distribution as well as renewable power.

The PM-KUSUM scheme announced by the Centre in February this year seeks to scale up use of solar energy for irrigation pumps. The scheme aims to provide both energy and financial security to farmers who would be allowed to sell the extra solar power they produce back to the grid. Among other important issues on the agenda include supply of 24X7 power to all— status, monitoring mechanism and further roadmap, progress in installation of smart pre-paid meters, progress of UDAI, right to consumers, introduction of direct benefit transfer scheme and introduction of multiple licencees and franchisees (distributors).

Among other topics are implementation of solar rooftop scheme, renewable energy development programmes in border areas, setting up ultramega renewable power parks, merit order dispatch (giving priority to cheaper power available during purchase by discoms) across the country, open access, measures to promote hydro power.

Meanwhile, UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad has demanded provision of compulsory CAG audit of the accounts of private generating and distribution companies to bring about a greater transparency.

Parishad president Awadhesh Kumar Verma on Sunday wrote a letter to the Prime Minister in this regard. He said 46% of the country’s total electricity was produced by the private companies and they sold power to discoms at a very high price.

“The private power companies must come under the purview of the CAG audit because they often show their expenses on a higher side to demand a higher tariff,” he said. Giving an example, he said, the private power generating companies in UP sold power at an expensive rate to the discoms resulting into a higher tariff for consumers.