Latest news with #BangaloreElectricitySupplyCompany
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Karnataka government drops plan to set up 2,500 public EV charging stations
Even as 1,04,415 new electric vehicles (EV) have come out on to the roads in Karnataka in 2025, the government has decided to drop its ambitious plan to set up 2,500 public EV charging stations across the State under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), which is the nodal agency for EV infrastructure in the State, stated that the project has been dropped after not receiving positive response from EV stakeholders. In the Budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the year 2024–25, he had announced that 2,500 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will be set up in the State under PPP model while 100 charging stations will be set up by escoms at a cost of ₹35 crore. A government order passed in June this year said that the plan to set up these charging stations has been dropped after considering the explanation provided by the managing director of Bescom. Shiva Shankara N., managing director, Bescom stated that failure to set up public charging stations previously deterred stakeholders from coming forward to set up new stations. 'In 2023 –24, even though there was a government order to set up 585 charging stations under PPP in nine districts, even one station could not be established. In 2024–25, a tender was called to set up 605 EV charging stations in the remaining 22 districts. While no bid was received for 18 districts, there was a single bidder for the other four. However, other government departments did not cooperate with the agencies which were awarded the tender when it came to land leasing. It was not possible for Bescom to identify land where the agencies could set up stations according to their regulations,' he explained. He further said that with not many EVs operational on the roads, agencies would be financially burdened if they established charging stations. Companies highlight challenges EV charging infrastructure providers said that they face many key challenges when it comes to setting up public charging stations. Talking about the mismatch between demand and supply locations, Raghav Bharadwaj, CEO, a provider of EV charging solutions said, 'Most EV users—especially individual two-wheeler and four-wheeler owners—prefer to charge their vehicles where they already spend significant time, such as at home, office, cafes, or malls. Unfortunately, many government-allocated sites for charging (like bus depots, government land, or offices) are not aligned with natural user behavior or traffic flow, making them commercially unviable.' He also said that inter-departmental coordination between Bescom, BBMP, and traffic police, which is often slow and complex leads to companies not having access to high utility spaces like curbside parking spots and electric pole-based charging, where people already park their vehicles to sleep, work, eat, or play. 'Deploying chargers in low-traffic areas with no guaranteed demand is risky and capital-intensive. Private players are wary of investing without clarity on land usage, electricity connection timelines, or return on investment. The PPP model, as currently structured, does not de-risk or incentivise early private participation adequately,' Mr. Bharadwaj further said. Private players demand mandating charger integration into real estate development, creating awareness among citizens and incentivising infrastructure to encourage more EV charger usage. EV users say that they are currently forced to charge the batteries of their vehicles at home as public infrastructure is unreliable. 'There are many apps which show where public chargers are located. But when I go there, they might be out of service, or the charger might not be compatible with my vehicle. The government should provide more reliable public chargers in the city similar to how there are many petrol pumps,' said Aarathy Praveen, a regular EV user. There are a total of 5.95 lakh EVs on road in Karnataka according to the data available with the Transport Department. Currently, to cater to this demand, the government has directed Bescom to take necessary steps for escoms to set up 100 charging stations at a cost of ₹35 crore.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
JSW Energy signs 25-year electricity supply pact with BESCOM for solar project
JSW Energy on Thursday said that its step-down subsidiary, JSW Renew Energy Forty Five, has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Bangalore Electricity Supply Company ( BESCOM ) for a grid-connected 100MW solar project with a 100MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). 'The aforesaid project will be developed on a designated site and connected to the 220/400 kV KPTCL Firozabad substation in Kalaburagi district,' JSW Energy said in a regulatory filing. As per the statement, the PPA has been signed at a tariff of ₹4.31 per kWh. Subsequent to this the, company's total locked-in energy storage capacity stands at 29.4 GWh, including 3.0 GWh of BESS and 26.4 GWh of Pumped Hydro Storage. The company said it is well-positioned to achieve its target of 40 GWh of energy storage by 2030.
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
JSW Energy arm inks pact with BESCOM for solar project
JSW Energy has announced that its step-down subsidiary, JSW Renew Energy Forty Five, has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM). The agreement is for a grid-connected 100 MW solar project integrated with a 100 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The project will be developed on a designated site and connected to the 220/400 kV KPTCL Firozabad substation in Kalaburagi district. The PPA has been signed for a tenure of 25 years at a tariff of Rs 4.31 per kWh. With this development, the companys total locked-in energy storage capacity now stands at 29.4 GWh, comprising 3.0 GWh of BESS and 26.4 GWh of pumped hydro storage. JSW Energy is well-positioned to achieve its target of 40 GWh of energy storage by 2030. JSW Energy is one of the leading private sector power producers in India and part of JSW group. It has established its presence across the value chains of power sector with diversified assets in power generation, and transmission. The companys consolidated net profit jumped 16.1% to Rs 408.05 crore on 15.7% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 3,189.39 crore in Q4 FY25 over Q4 FY24. The scrip shed 0.48% to Rs 531.15 on the BSE.
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- The Hindu
Bescom employee ends life over suspected case of digital arrest in Bengaluru
A Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) employee ended his life over a suspected case of digital arrest and extortion, in his native Kelagere village, in Channapatna taluk of Ramanagara district in Karnataka, at night on July 14. The death came to light on July 15 morning. The deceased Kumara K., 48, had been living at BTM Layout in Bengaluru for the past 25 years. He had been working with Bescom. He was married, and the couple have an eight-year-old son. He has left behind a hand-written one-page note in which he accused Vikram Goswami, who claimed to be an officer of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), of threatening him and of extortion. Vikram Goswami reportedly called Kumara two weeks ago claiming to be a CBI officer. He claimed that there was an arrest warrant pending against Kumara and demanded ₹1,95,000 to evade arrest. Kumara reportedly paid up. Over a period of two weeks, Kumara claimed to have transferred ₹11 lakh in total to Vikram Goswami. When Vikram Goswami demanded another ₹2.75 lakh, Kumara could not take it any more. Acting on his wife Savitramma's complaint, M. K. Doddi police have registered a case for abetting suicide against Vikram Goswami. Kumara was scared and was talking to a man in broken Hindi for the past 15 days, according to her complaint. A senior police official said leads and the modus operandi indicate a case of digital arrest. (Those who are in distress or having suicidal tendencies can seek help from Arogya Sahayavani Ph: 104)
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Power outage in Sarjapura-Attibele region from July 11 to 13
There will be a disruption in power supply between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. from July 11 to 13 because of infrastructure upgrades on the Sarjapura–Attibele 66 kV line. According to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), the power cuts are necessary to facilitate the stringing of High-Temperature Low-Sag (HTLS) conductors on the single circuit line. Power supply will be disrupted in areas serviced by the following stations: 66/11 KV Attibele Station: Yadavanahalli, Ichanguru, Vaddarapalya, Attibele Industrial Area, Balagaranahalli, Manchanahalli, Attibele Town, Mayasandra, Dasanapura, Balluru, Kamblipura, Chikkanahalli, Indlabele, Harohalli, and surrounding areas. 66/11 KV Anekal Station: Anekal Town, Kaval Hosahalli, Gowrenahalli, Haldenahalli, Hompalagatta, Choodenahalli, Honnakalahapura, Karapuru, Byagadadenhalli, Kada Agrahara, Chikkahagade, Doddahagade, and surrounding areas. 66/11 KV Samanduru Station: Samanduru, Rachammannahalli, Guddanahalli, Aravantigepura, P. Gollahalli, Telagarahalli, Vanakanahalli.
