Making the launch of the online payment facility for Bescom bills on Thursday, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) K Jairaj said that 720 MW would be derived from wind energy and 130 MW from mini hydel projects. About 45 MW would come from co-generation plants and the rest would be from solar energy, he stated.
“We have firmed up the schedule and it will be executed on a quarterly basis. About 54 MW have already been added to the grid from wind and co-generation sources,” Jairaj told reporters here.
He said at the Global Investors Meet they had 60 responses for bidding on taking up gas-based power plants for 3000 MW and 90 responses for taking up small projects from 60-200 MW. Those who are interested in taking up smaller projects (60-200 MW) have been asked to submit applications to Udyog Mitra by June 19.
Online payment
Bescom has tied up with IDBI bank to introduce online payment facility through credit and debit cards for customers in Bangalore. Payments can be made at the Bescom website by registering at the site: www.bescom.org
An e-receipt will be sent to the mail ID directly after the transaction is completed.
However, customers will be levied a transaction fee of 1.5 per cent of the transaction cost and an additional 10.5 per cent on the 1.5 per cent will be charged as service tax.
Ceiling limit is 50,000
Bescom MD Tushar Girinath said online payment would eliminate the complaints that connections would be terminated as the payment at the centres would not be entered into the system instantly. The online payment ensures instant updating of the system, he assured. The ceiling limit per transaction is Rs 50,000.
The service at present is restricted only to Bangalore customers. Other customers of Bescom are likely to get the facility in six months time.
The Escoms of Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli and Gulbarga are already in talks with IDBI bank to implement the facility in their area.