[Nethra K Putti]

BESCOM IS A BILLION-DOLLAR COMAPNY

within 5 years of its formation in June 2002, Bangalore Electricity Company has crossed a major milestone by becoming One Billion-US-Dollar Company.

According to BESCOM MD. V.M. Chandre Gowda, the utility is the only Escom in the State & opne of the few electric companies in the country, perhaps next only to reliance energy, to cross billion dollar mark. the revenue demande BESCOM for 2006-2007 has touched $1.13 billion (4852 crores).

"Despite the costly energy purchased during summer we have been able to meet a net profit of Rs.46.76 crores for 2006-07 " , he observed at a meeting media.

During the period number of consumers increased by 27%, from 46.57 lakh to 59.21 lakh. Also as many as 42,640 distribution transformers were added in the whole of BESCOM area.

CUTTING LOSSES :
explaining the various steps of BESCOM has taken in the past 5 years to track down losses such as transformer-wise auditing of energy, & repalcement of faulty meters high precision ones, Mr.Gowda said " these have resulted in the reduction distribution losses from 28 to 37% & teh transformer failure rate from 18 % to 9.4 in Bangalore, there has been no failures of transformers since 5 years he says. "

A sum of Rs.1240 crores been invested to set up new stations & lay new transmission lines in B.City.

STATISTICS :
Details : Number of Consumers
2002-2003: 46.57 lakh
2006-2007: 59.21 lakh

Details: Revenue Demand
2002-2003: -----------
2006-2007: Rs. 4852 crores.

Details: Revenue Collections
2002-2003: Rs.2089 crores.
2006-2007: Rs.4654 crores.

Details: Total Number of Stations
2002-2003: 206
2006-2007: 289.

---> Source : Deccan herald..