Rains, gusty winds cause over Rs 30 crore damage to power infrastructure across Karnataka
Dharwad: Heavy rains and gusty winds over the past two months have severely damaged power infrastructure across Kittur-Karnataka, Kalyana-Karnataka, and Coastal Karnataka, resulting in losses exceeding Rs 30 crore to regional electricity supply companies — HESCOM, GESCOM, and MESCOM.
According to a report cited by Deccan Herald on Tuesday, MESCOM (responsible for electricity distribution in Coastal Karnataka) reported the damage of over 5,050 electric poles and the bursting of 137 transformers. More than 253 km of power lines were disrupted, leaving several areas in the coastal belt facing persistent power outages amid ongoing heavy rainfall and high-speed winds.
HESCOM reported infrastructure losses of Rs 6.07 crore between May and June. Over 4,600 electricity poles and 214 transformers were damaged across its seven divisions due to rain-induced flooding and lightning. Dharwad district alone accounted for 613 damaged poles and 28 transformers, while Uttara Kannada — one of the worst-hit regions — reported 2,128 fallen poles and 142 damaged transformers. In Gadag district, 284 electricity poles were uprooted.
GESCOM has reported extensive damage across its jurisdiction. The company reportedly recorded over 7,544 electric poles and 498 transformers damaged over the last two months. Kalaburagi City was among the worst affected, with 2,060 poles and 110 transformers impacted. In Bidar, 1,190 poles and 150 transformers were damaged, while over 65 km of power lines collapsed across the region.
“In urban areas, damaged transformers are replaced within 24 hours, while in rural areas, the process takes up to 72 hours. However, immediate repair becomes difficult if a large number of poles are affected or if the damage occurs at night. We stock extra poles and transformers during the monsoon to ensure quicker restoration,” DH quoted GESCOM Managing Director Ravindra Karlingannavar as saying.
Meanwhile, residents in affected areas continue to face hardships. Narayan Bhat, a senior citizen and member of the HESCOM Users’ Committee from Heggara village in Ankola taluk, shared that recurring damage is common during the monsoon due to trees falling on electric lines and poles. “Once the monsoon sets in, villagers often go without electricity for a week to fifteen days, living cut off from the outside world. We’ve become used to this. Thankfully, with the recent installation of solar and UPS systems, the situation is slightly better than before,” he noted.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
