MSMEs and SSI sought for separate electricity tariff, urges for solar use

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Small Scale Industries (SSI) are seeking for separate electricity tariff. Both MSMEs and SSIs have detailed their presentation before Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) last week.

MSME associations jointly organizing an awareness programme in Karnataka on ‘Roof Top Solar Power Generation’ to encourage the SMEs and SSIs to use space on their rooftop buildings in generating power.

KS Mallappa Gowda, Chairman (Sub-Committee, Energy), Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (Kassia) to BusinessLine said that “SMEs and SSI consuming 40HP and below or 2,000 units should be brought under separate tariff plan.”

Objections filed by Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (Kassia) before KERC states that SSIs are overburdened with frequent change in tariffs and quality of power which is heartrending their capability to compete in a global market.

There is a large potential available for generating solar power unutilized space on rooftops and wastelands around buildings said Suresh Kumar Jain, General Secretary of Mysore Industries Association to publication.

The Government of India has set a target of installing 4,200 MW of Grid-Interactive Rooftop Solar PV Plants under its ambitious National Solar Mission (NSM) in next five years up to 2019-20.

Mysore Industries Association representing Industries of Mysore, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd, Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Ltd and District Industries Centre, Laghu Udyog Bharathi – National Industrial Organization, ,Mandya and Chamarajanagara Districts in Association with Ministry of New & Renewable Energy Government of Indian has organized a awareness programme in Mysuru on February 29.

Organizers said “Solar power offers the potential to generate electricity with no global warming pollution, no other emissions, no fuel costs, and no risks of fuel price spike. India is facing a huge energy demand and the country has tremendous scope of generating solar energy,” the further added. “Today it is possible to generate solar power from the solar rooftop systems at a nominal rate of Rs.6.50/kWh. This is much cheaper than the electricity generated through diesel gen-sets.”