Jaipur discom to give CFLs on EMIs

With an aim to reduce electricity consumption, Jaipur electricity distribution company Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) has decided to offer compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) to customers at its 64 bill collection centres in the city.

The electricity distribution company would offer compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) on instalments to its consumers. JVVNL and CFL manufacturers would enter into an agreement with electricity consumers according to which the distribution company would recover the cost of CFL bulbs on instalment by adding it to their monthly bills.

This way the consumer will not only get a benefit of having CFL on installments but will also result into savings in electricity bills.

"We have already offered free space to private CFL manufacturers to sell their products at our bill collection counters," a senior official of JVVNL said.

"There is no binding on the consumer to buy it. It is a plan to curb electricity consumption and we want to spread a knowledge that it is one of the ways of doing it," he added.

CFLs are estimated to reduce the total power consumption by 10-20 percent.

Marred by power deficit, the state government has also started to put in place steps to reduce electricity consumption. According to new instructions, high-powered sodium lights would now not be installed in colonies or outside houses and in its place only energy-saving tube lights would be used.

In parks, decision has been taken to install solar-powered energy devices for lighting purposes.

Besides, the government has also decided to go for energy audit in government offices from time to time. The new directives also include more use of power-saving CFLs.

Solar timers would be used in different areas, which would control and monitor the functioning of streetlight for switching on and putting the street lights off timely thereby saving wastage of power.

The target to implement these directives has been fixed as March 2009, however the government has decided to start the process from right now.

Meanwhile, the state government is also likely to soon implement energy conservation building code in the state.

After the implementation of this code, installation of energy saving lights and solar heating plants would be made mandatory in all the government buildings in the state.

The government also plans to give priority to installation of solar devices in office buildings.

Under the proposal, the use of CFL lights would mandatory in all the government building including offices, guest houses and other annexes.