Faced with an on-and-off power shortage, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) is mulling a cut in power to hoardings and other advertising set-ups in the city, if the situation worsens.
“We are examining the possibility based on suggestions given by residents. While there is no load shedding anywhere currently, in future when there is a shortage of power, we may cut or reduce power to hoardings and advertisements first. This will only be after discussions with them (advertisers),” said P Manivannan, MD, BESCOM.
With an industry whose earnings are more than `250 crore a year, the move might not go down well with outdoor advertisers.
“Hoardings nowadays operate on very low power. A 40x20 hoarding with four halogen bulbs of 400 kVA would consume 1.6kw. Lighting is very important for hoardings with an increase in the evening traffic,” said B S Sujay, MD, Sujay Advertising.