Seminar on Clean Energy Transition and Electricity Governance, Tripura

Mon, 14/10/2024 - 19:10

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Consumer Protection Association (CPA) in partnership with Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG) is implementing a project titled "Accelerating Clean Energy Transition by Improving Stakeholder Participation for Electricity Governance in India" in the state of Tripura. The project was formally launched in Agartala on March 9, 2024. As part of the project, a seminar on ‘Clean Energy Transition and Electricity Governance’ was organized at Town Hall, Dharmanagar, North Tripura District on September 28, 2024.

Team members : CPA, Agartala and CAG Chennai

Shri Pran Krishna Paul, Retired Judge, Tripura Judicial Service, presently holding the post of Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, North District Tripura was the chief guest at the Seminar.

Shri Pran Krishna Paul, Retired Judge, Tripura addressing the gathering

Adv. Amrit Lal Saha, President of Consumers’ Protection Association (CPA), Agartala, Tripura welcomed the dignitaries and participants. He introduced CAG and spoke about the ongoing national level Project in five Indian states including Tripura, focused on clean energy transition and electricity governance. He also explained that so far, in Tripura, six events have been organized in different parts of the state, with the current seminar being the seventh activity under the project. The project will formally conclude in November, after implementation of two more activities, said Adv. Saha.

Dignitaries formally inaugurated the seminar by lighting lamps.

Shri Kirubakaran B, Researcher, CAG, Chennai spoke in detail about CAG’s initiative on Clean Energy Transition. He briefly explained about the tariff structure for Domestic, Commercial and Irrigation consumers and various components of the energy bill in Tripura. He further gave insights about the energy and cost saving avenues specifically for Domestic, Commercial and Irrigation consumers viz., optimizing the Contract Demand, opting for Time of Day Tariff for irrigation consumers, utilization of energy efficient star rated utilities like LED bulbs, BLDC fans, AC, motors, etc. He further explained the different types of Solar Photovoltaic systems like grid connected system, stand-alone systems and hybrid systems and their respective benefits. He also spoke about the subsidy schemes offered by the Govt of India for installing solar power plants, such as the PM Surya Garh Scheme and PM KUSUM scheme.

Shri Pran Krishna Paul, Retired Judge, Tripura Judicial Service, delivered his speech as the Chief Guest to the Seminar. He spoke about consumer rights and awareness, with a focus on grievance redressal mechanisms in Tripura's electricity regulation sector. He explained that if any consumer has any grievance/complaint about electricity he/she may go to the consumer court without any advocate.

Sri Narayan Dutta Roy, Secretary of the North Tripura Consumers Protection Association since 1985, emphasized the challenges faced by prepaid consumers, assuring that the Association was working to represent their grievances. He pointed out that electricity bills include fixed charges, meter rent, and duty charges, which are levied. When a new service connection is established, consumers are charged for a new meter, but the DISCOM continues to charge them a separate meter rent monthly, which is unfair. He advocated for promoting renewable energy sources like solar power.

Discussions surrounded common consumer issues. Instances were given of how consumers could save power - especially, government hospitals which lack monitoring of energy usage. By incorporating energy efficiency and conservation measures, these hospitals can save money. The same applies to other consumer categories such as residential, commercial and industrial consumers.