1 week Ago By Venkadesan S
Chennai: The TN Power Distribution Corporation Ltd ( TNPDCL ) has directed its field officers to reject both new and pending applications for free electricity service for farming and related activities if the applicant already possesses an off-grid solar-powered pump set for irrigation. Since 2021, the state govt has provided 1.69 lakh free electricity connections to farmers.
Yet, approximately 3 lakh farmers are still awaiting this service, with some applications dating back as far as 10 years. In anticipation of eventually receiving free electricity, many farmers said they have either independently installed off-grid solar pump sets or done so through govt subsidies, while others rely on diesel-powered pumps. A recent memorandum issued by the director of TNPDCL instructs field officers not to consider new or pending applications for free electricity service (under the LT-IV category) from farmers who already have standalone off-grid solar-powered pump sets, regardless of whether these were erected through their own investment or with financial assistance from any govt agency.
TNPDCL has stipulated that such applicants can only opt for the LT-IIIA(1) category, which is intended for cottage and micro industries. This category incurs a tariff of 4.8 an unit for the first 500 units and 6.
95 an unit for usage beyond that, in addition to fixed charges of 150 a KW of connected load. A further condition requires applicants to provide an undertaking that they will not seek free electricity service in the future. P.
Muthusamy, former director of the TN Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) criticised the memorandum on three grounds. Firstly, he argues that Section 43 of the Electricity Act 2003 mandates that TNPDCL provide electricity supply upon application from any premises occupier, thus lacking the authority to deny agricultural service. "TNERC can decide on the periodicity for providing the agricultural supply but cannot deny it altogether," he said.
Secondly, the impracticality of farmers ceasing agricultural activities while waiting for TNPDCL supply. Thirdly, TNPDCL's directive effectively eliminates the option for farmers to convert their existing power supply under the LT IIIA(1) tariff to free supply once their seniority for the latter is reached. "TNPDCL cannot take such a decision arbitrarily without the approval of TNERC," he added.
CPM state secretary P Shanmugam, who is also the president of the TN farmers association, said the state should reconsider this move since, farmers would have taken out loans to install the existing pump sets or are struggling to pay the bills..
