Hyderabad, June 19: Adilabadis managed to beat the severe summer heat by spending an extra fortune over greater consumption of power apparently due to the increased use of air conditioners, air coolers and other electrical devices and appliances. For example, the 20 per cent rise in revenue for APTransco’s Adilabad division in the month of May is being attributed to the growing use of electrical appliances by people who can afford to bring down the heat within tolerable limits.
“Yes, a quantum jump in sales of electrical devices like the air conditioners and air coolers was recorded during the summer this year. Our estimates reveal a 1,000 new air conditioners having been sold in Adilabad and a few surrounding places,” discloses a leading dealer in electrical and electronic goods, pointing out towards the trend.
“While the revenue for the entire division increased from Rs. 2.82 crore in May 2008 to Rs. 3.42 crore in May this year, the jump in Adilabad town alone was Rs. 30 lakh. This can only be ascribed to the growing power consumption in the domestic sector, including government offices by way of greater use of electrical appliances,” opines Jaywant Chauhan the Divisional Engineer of APTransco’s Adilabad (Operations) circle.
“Due to the increased use of air conditioners and coolers, the monthly power bills of a majority of domestic power consumers also registered a jump. Many of them have complained of over billing not realising the fact that electrical appliances consume more power,” adds Mr. Chauhan.
In rural areas of Adilabad, the use of power consuming appliances may still be restricted but, negligence on the part panchayat level functionaries is also costing the national exchequer a lot. Street lights are left burning even during the day time in many villages that adds to the power bill of the concerned Gram Panchayat.
“This kind of negligence in the rural areas has been observed even as the government supplies power for 24 hours. About 100 street bulbs are left glowing in one Gram Panchayat during day time resulting in a loss of 100 units. Though we charge the concerned Gram Panchayat for the power consumed, it still is a national loss,” points out an official of the APTransco.
–Agencies