HYDERABAD: In view of a severe power crisis gripping the state, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is initiating steps to save power.
The civic body has proposed to replace the conventional street lighting system with light-emitting diodes (LED) on selected stretches in the city. LEDs provide better illumination and reduce electricity consumption.
A proposal on the issue has been submitted to the corporation’s standing committee for approval. Under the project, the capital investment of `1,000 LEDs will be met by the Energy Efficient Services Limited (ESSL). The main objective of the ESSL is to implement energy-efficient projects on a turnkey basis with assistance from urban local bodies and state governments.
The project also covers replacement warranty of street lights and free operation and maintenance during the tenure. A centralised monitoring and control system will also be put in place.
The ESSL has been set up under the aegis of the ministry of power with contributions from four central PSUs -- National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC).
As many as 3,40,941 streetlights fall under the GHMC limits and consume about 58.75 mw of power. The corporation spends about `190.84 crore annually for street lights.
Of the total number of street lights, about 1,71,793 are 150w high pressure sodium vapour (HPSV) lights. Other types of lights include 250w HPSV (70,209), 70w HPSV (47,520), 40w tubes (16,475), 250w MH (16,536), 400w MH (18,150), 120w LEDs (254) and 250w Induction (4).
GHMC officials said the maintainence staff of the electrical wing were switching on the streetlights by 5 pm and leaving them that way till 8 am the following morning. “Through LED lighting, this can be eliminated besides conserving power for two to three hours a day,” they added.
Currently, the GHMC utilises about 20 million units of electricity per month.