KSEB asked to supply 500 kw to Kanjikode Park

PALAKKAD: Bringing relief to the entrepreneurs who have set up units at the 165-acre Kinfra Integrated Textile park in Kanjikode, the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed the KSEB to provide 500 kilowatt of power to the park.However, the KSEB has flayed the Regulatory Commission’s decision, saying that there is a legal shortcoming in the order.Kinfra and NTPC Electric Supply Company Limited (NESCL) had assigned the Kinesco Power and Utilities Limited in June 2008 for the distribution of power as a licensee in the industrial parks, special economic zones and other industrial projects.However, the KSEB was of the view that it will be unable to supply power to the licensee models of business at the tariff rate of `3.25 per unit since it was acquiring power at a higher rate from other states and from the central pool.The KSEB’s stance prompted one of the units at the park, Blaze Polypack India Limited, along with Kinesco, to approach the Power Regulatory Commission.The court in its interim order stated that the KSEB should provide 500 kilowatt of power to the park for six months and in the meantime the Kinesco should lay an underground cable to supply power to other units.“The textile park would require 6 MW of power. Under the Electricity Act, 2003, even the KSEB is a licensee. If the KSEB was an unbundled entity as originally proposed, there would not have been a problem. But, since they were the producers and distributors, the allotment of power was  being resisted,” said S Ramnath, Managing Director of Kinfra.“Kinfra will construct a temporary building within 15 days and provide power to the units. We have floated a tender for the laying of underground cables and the last date for submission of bids is April 13.,” said Kinfra sources.KSEB Stance“There is no agreement for distribution of power with Kinesco. Therefore, how can the Regulatory Commission adjudicate in a dispute between two independent parties. There is a legal shortcoming in the order,” said a KSEB source.“The interim order of the commission has not been received by us. The board will consider all aspects when it receives the order,” said the executive engineer of the Tariff and Regulatory Affairs Cell of the KSEB B Pradeep.