Bengaluru: Thousands of households could soon benefit from a crackdown on large apartment complexes and commercial projects that energy officials say are overloading the city’s electricity network. Acting on complaints from resident welfare associations (RWAs), govt has decided to initiate action against ‘self-execution (SE) project’ developers who failed to create mandatory electrical infrastructure despite drawing high volumes of power.The energy department Friday directed Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) to initiate action against developers who haven’t established dedicated substations and associated electrical infrastructure, as mandated under Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) regulations.Under the rules, residential and commercial projects with a sanctioned electrical load exceeding 7.5 MVA must create dedicated substations and related infrastructure at their own cost before obtaining permanent power supply. The provision aims to ensure large private developments do not burden the existing public electricity network or force taxpayers to fund infrastructure meant exclusively for private projects.Energy minister KJ George said nearly 45 such projects have been identified in Bengaluru, and notices have been issued to the developers. “As per KERC regulations, these projects are liable to pay a penalty of 10% of the project cost. Continued non-compliance that results in transmission constraints at KPTCL substations could invite further action, including disconnection of power supply,” George said.KPTCL managing director V Ram Prasath Manohar directed all divisions to identify apartment complexes, layouts, townships and commercial developments that have exceeded their sanctioned electrical load without establishing mandatory infrastructure.
