KEEPING IN MIND the diverse requirements in rural areas, Energy Efficiency Services (EESL), a state-run power sector player, is in talks with state-run power distribution companies (discoms) to implement its new modular programme, which would set up solar plants in villages, install LED street lights with batteries and replace older agricultural pump sets with efficient systems. The company has already installed 100 megawatt (MW) of solar capacity in Maharashtra and is supplying power at Rs 3/unit directly to the local agricultural feeders.
With incremental tariffs, the company is willing to provide the additional services without any subsidy from the central or state governments, Saurabh Kumar, managing director, EESL, told FE. EESL is a joint venture of NTPC, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation and Power Grid Corporation of India. It was set up under the Union ministry of power to facilitate the implementation of energy-efficiency projects.
