We are in the grip of a heat wave. Even without that, we get sunlight for 11 months in a year. The government electricity supply just can not cope with the demand, when every house has one air conditioner and some have two, fridges and fans are running non-stop. They do cope with frequent shutdowns, suddenly and without warning. This means you also have to have a UPS or generator. Not that that reduces your bill in any way!
They have slabs also. As you use more electricity, you move into higher slabs and higher slabs. The charge per unit bill doubles and triples, and with it the bill. I became neurotic and wanted to live in darkness with airconditioned room doors firmly shut.
There seemed to be only one way out of this mess. Solar power! Sunlight, after all, is one of the few things that are not taxed and without professional fees and GST.
The government advertised subsidies and attractive schemes for people willing to pule up solar panels. Their idea was good. They could give a 25% subsidy, it was a one-time investment, you can either have batteries and be totally independent of the electricity board or you can supply you current to the grid and get credits so that your bill is reduced.
There are a lot of people offering to set up solar units. Very few of them have the technical know-how or back up. So I decided to go with Havells. They are an old established company and though they were marginally more expensive, they offered a 25-year guarantee. Their local agent was an engineer trained in solar technology.
Meanwhile, i heard horror stories about poorly set up solar plants which stopped working after a couple of months!
I must warn everyone that the government is totally unhelpful. They make you run from pillar to post for the subsidy. They insist you buy from only their own shady substandard dealers. I soon gave up the idea of a subsidy.
They have to do some with wiring and fix a meter to monitor your generation consumption and contribution to the grid. They all want bribes for all of this. Otherwise,
"meters are unavailable. They are in short supply. You have to wait at the bottom of the line". (My neighbour has been waiting 18 months after placing the panels)
Greasing palms makes meters mysteriously appear.
The panels work well. My bill has come down from Rs 15000 to Rs 370.
I definitely recommend solar power.
My husband still leaves the door open after switching on the AC. He doesn't switch off lights.
Know something?
I no longer care.
http://velloretimes.blogspot.in/
They have slabs also. As you use more electricity, you move into higher slabs and higher slabs. The charge per unit bill doubles and triples, and with it the bill. I became neurotic and wanted to live in darkness with airconditioned room doors firmly shut.
There seemed to be only one way out of this mess. Solar power! Sunlight, after all, is one of the few things that are not taxed and without professional fees and GST.
The government advertised subsidies and attractive schemes for people willing to pule up solar panels. Their idea was good. They could give a 25% subsidy, it was a one-time investment, you can either have batteries and be totally independent of the electricity board or you can supply you current to the grid and get credits so that your bill is reduced.
There are a lot of people offering to set up solar units. Very few of them have the technical know-how or back up. So I decided to go with Havells. They are an old established company and though they were marginally more expensive, they offered a 25-year guarantee. Their local agent was an engineer trained in solar technology.
Meanwhile, i heard horror stories about poorly set up solar plants which stopped working after a couple of months!
I must warn everyone that the government is totally unhelpful. They make you run from pillar to post for the subsidy. They insist you buy from only their own shady substandard dealers. I soon gave up the idea of a subsidy.
They have to do some with wiring and fix a meter to monitor your generation consumption and contribution to the grid. They all want bribes for all of this. Otherwise,
"meters are unavailable. They are in short supply. You have to wait at the bottom of the line". (My neighbour has been waiting 18 months after placing the panels)
Greasing palms makes meters mysteriously appear.
The panels work well. My bill has come down from Rs 15000 to Rs 370.
I definitely recommend solar power.
My husband still leaves the door open after switching on the AC. He doesn't switch off lights.
Know something?
I no longer care.
http://velloretimes.blogspot.in/
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