12 Lakh Power Users to Get LED Bulbs

GUNTUR: About 2.25 lakh LED bulbs were distributed in the district in the past one month as part of the Demand Side Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP) being implemented to save electricity consumption. DELP was taken up as a pilot project in the district and is being implemented jointly by the Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) and the Andhra Pradesh government.

As part of the programme, a consumer can exchange two 60 Watt incandescent lights (ICL) for as many 7 Watt LED bulbs. Each bulb costs just Rs 10. While Srikakulam, West Godavari, Guntur and Anantapur districts have been selected for implementation of the programme, it was first taken up in Guntur district as a pilot project.

“The first 30 distribution counters were set up at Vinukonda, Chirala, Ponnuru and Sattenapalli. Three days ago, we have set up 60 distribution counters in Guntur city. There are about 12 lakh electricity connections in Guntur district and in the city alone there are about three lakh connections. We are planning to complete the process in the city to ensure that the effect of the programme is felt by the public,” said Guntur SPDCL superintending engineer K Santosh Kumar.

Later, distribution counters will be set up in rural areas and the whole process will be completed within three months, added K Santosh Kumar

Guntur SPDCL officials estimated that about 10 lakh electricity consumers will utilise the opportunity and accordingly orders have been placed for 20 lakh LED bulbs. While EESL will procure LED lights from LED manufacturers to be supplied to the AP government, the Southern Power Distribution Company of AP Ltd (SPDCL) is distributing them to consumers.

According to official calculations, while two 60 Watt incandescent lights consume one unit of power by working for just eight hours, two 7 Watt LED lights work for about 72 hours by consuming just one unit of power. About 90 per cent of energy consumed will be saved.

Consumers have to produce their Aadhaar cards and electricity bills to procure LED lights at Rs 10 each. As the much-publicised LED lights distribution programme has begun, the officials are more eagerly waiting for its outcome than the public as even one unit of power saved will automatically decrease the burden on the power production companies.