Summer used to be despised by both citizens and power companies because it had become synonymous with power outages. Photographs of students studying for exams by candlelight were frequently published in newspapers. For example, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) would develop contingency plans to ensure maximum supply.
Karnataka, on the other hand, has claimed to be a power surplus state for several years and has risen to the top of the renewable energy rankings (RE). This, however, has not resulted in zero power outages in either the capital or the rest of the state, nor has it helped to reduce rates, which have been steadily rising in recent years.
According to senior Energy Department officials, Karnataka’s transition from a power deficit to a surplus state has been attributed, among other things, to a focus on renewable energy, which has contributed to capacity addition, particularly through solar.
