Extra power: Boon for people, bane for Kesco

THE PEOPLE of Kanpur have at last got some respite from power woes but this relief to the citizens has brought acute discomfort to Kanpur Electricity Supply Company (Kesco) officials.

With the city receiving 30 per cent more power in comparison to normal power supply, the entire month of May remained more or less free from night rostering.

Even in the current month barring a few nights, the city has remained more or less free from night rostering. This improved scenario of power supply could only be possible due to the extra power given to the city by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL).   

According to Kesco officials, night rostering could only be done away with because city is receiving 30 per cent more power supply from the power corporation in comparison to what it used to get earlier. However, this improved power scenario is a bane for Kesco officials.  Now, the power corporation is expecting more revenue from Kesco officials in proportion to the increased power supply.

On an average Kesco gets 19 mu of power but in the month of May it had received 24.7 mu of power. While in the current month of June power supply of the city has remained satisfactory. 

In terms of revenue, on an average, Kesco pays Rs 40 crore per month to the power corporation.  However, after the increased power supply, the UPPCL is expecting Kesco to increase the revenue by 30 per cent. Keeping in view the poor performance of Kesco, when it comes to revenue realisation, Kesco officials are already having sleepless nights. In a monthly revenue meeting held in the state capital on Tuesday, Managing Director of Kesco Arun was candidly informed by the senior officials of Power Corporation to increase the revenue. A senior official of Kesco said, “Earlier excessive rostering including the night rostering was a perfect alibi for Kesco officials for poor revenue realisation.” 

But, now with the improved power supply and control rostering, Kesco officials are under immense pressure to enhance the revenue, added the official.

Talking to Hindustan Times, Arun said, “Due to increased power supply the city received 30 per cent more power in May last. So now we have to pay more revenue to Power Corporation in commensurate to the increased power supply received by Kesco.”