Latest news with #TNEB
New Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
TNEB cuts annual losses to Rs 800 crore, reports Rs 70,000 crore revenue
VELLORE: The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has significantly reduced its annual losses to Rs 800 crore, down from previous years, says Managing Director J Radhakrishnan announced on Thursday. The board reported a revenue of Rs 70,000 crore this fiscal, aided by a Rs 17,000 crore subsidy from the state government and an additional Rs 17,000 crore allocated to offset losses. "Prudent financial management and government support have helped curtail losses," Radhakrishnan said during an inspection of the upcoming Government Multi-Specialty Hospital in Vellore, slated for inauguration by Chief Minister MK Stalin on June 25. He also confirmed that power connections and transformer setups for the Rs 150-crore hospital will be operational by inauguration day, with backup generator facilities in place. Additionally, a 230-kilowatt substation at Adukkamparai Government Hospital will be functional within three months. To prevent monsoon-related outages, TNEB plans to install three new substations in Vellore region, which currently requires 1,257 MW. Tamil Nadu's total power capacity stands at 14,800 MW, with the 1,320 MW Udangudi plant set for launch soon. The state leads nationally in wind and hydro power generation, with over 20,000 renewable energy sources, he added. TNEB has sought approval to install smart metres for 1.42 crore consumers, aligning with national initiatives. Radhakrishnan assured no tariff hikes for domestic users, citing CM Stalin's directive. The board will also address staff shortages through government-approved recruitment. "Agricultural and industrial growth owes much to uninterrupted power supply, propelling TN to India's second-largest industrial hub," he added. With pending projects now funded, TNEB aims to expedite pending works. Collector VR Subbulakshmi and senior officials accompanied the MD during the review.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- The Hindu
Former TNEB Additional Chief Engineer sentenced to two years in corruption case
Special Court for Prevention of Corruption Act in Tiruchi on Wednesday sentenced a former Additional Chief Engineer of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board(TNEB) to two years of imprisonment for accepting a bribe of ₹5,000 in a 2005 case. The convicted official, Arumugam ,77, was serving as Additional Chief Engineer at the Mannarpuram TNEB office here when the incident occurred. Saravanan, who was working as an electrical supervisor at a private oxygen production unit owned by K. V. Nagarajan in Thuvakudi, had applied for an upgrade in power supply — from 175 KVA to 200 KVA — on November 7, 2005. Arumugam allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹10,000 to process the request, asking for ₹5,000 as an advance. Saravanan, unwilling to pay the bribe, lodged a complaint with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). A trap was laid under the supervision of DSP Suresh Kumar, and Arumugam was caught red-handed while accepting the money. Following the trial Judge found Arumugam guilty under Sections 7 and 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was sentenced to one year of imprisonment and fined ₹10,000 under Section 7, and two years of imprisonment with an additional fine of ₹10,000 under Section 13. The sentences are to run concurrently.
New Indian Express
06-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Online payment of power bills gaining ground in Madurai
MADURAI: Proliferation of smart phones and penetration of internet has resulted in more people opting for online payments. According to data shared by Tangedco, 42,50,530 bill payments, worth Rs 1,104 crore, were made through the online mode in financial year 2024-25. A total of 61,45,779 offline transactions, amounting to Rs 1,450.26 crore, were recorded during the same period. V Pichairajan, deputy secretary of TNEB retired employees union, said,'The internet has been a game changer, many a times we see huge crowds waiting in line to pay bill. With online transactions ensuring safety and security just like internet banking, most customers are prefering to make online payment. Most importantly it saves a lot of time. UPI applications have autopay or auto debit options which have simplified the payment of electricity bills.' A senior official from Tangedco said, 'The increase in online transactions is primarily due to the internet penetration. Online transactions saves paper work for us. Still many elders and small shop owners prefer to pay bills using cash. This is the reason many elderly people can be seen in queues at EB counters, than before. Alsom, we have issued oral requests to pay bill amount above Rs 5,000 through DD or cheque for safety.' The official said 49,495 transactions were made through cheques and 15,300 through Demand draft in Madurai for FY 2024-25.
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- The Hindu
HC directs TNEB Dindigul to pay ₹10 lakh compensation to woman whose husband and son were electrocuted in Kodaikanal
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Dindigul, to pay compensation of ₹10 lakh to a woman whose husband and son were electrocuted in 2018 in Kodaikanal, around 10 days after Cyclone Gaja. The court was hearing a petition filed in 2022 by Subulakshmi, who was a resident of Pethuparai village in Kodaikanal in Dindigul district. Her husband Ravi and their only son Raja Pandi were into farming, she said. In December 2018 at around 7 a.m., her son Raja Pandi had gone to hang his wet towel on a clothesline. The clothesline had come in contact with a live wire. He was electrocuted. On seeing this, Ravi attempted to save his son. He was also electrocuted. The petitioner said that due to Cyclone Gaja there was no electricity supply for over 10 days. Without checking whether the lines were safe and proper, the Electricity Board had restored the connection, which resulted in the death of her husband and son. The Kodaikanal police had registered a case. In 2019, she filed a petition seeking compensation from the State. The court closed the petition taking into account that ₹ 2 lakh ex-gratia amount was released in 2021. The petitioner filed the present petition seeking compensation from TNEB, Dindigul. She said that the Electricity Board was responsible for the death of her husband and son. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan observed that Tangedco had evolved a scheme for the payment of compensation to the family of electrocution victims. Under the scheme, a sum of ₹5 lakh was paid to the family. Applying the compensation scheme to the facts of the case, TNEB, Dindigul, shall pay the petitioner ₹5 lakh for the death Ravi and ₹5 lakh for the death of Raja Pandi, the court directed and closed the petition.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Power demand rises in Tamil Nadu, but only 39 of 216 substations set up in three years
CHENNAI: Even as power demand keeps rising in Tamil Nadu, the state has managed to build only 39 new substations in various voltage levels like 765kV, 400kV, 230kV, 110kV and 66kV in the past three years. In 2021 the former electricity minister (V Senthil Balaji) had announced that the government would build 216 new substations of various capacities. According to the policy note of the Energy department for 2025-26, the total number of substations in four voltage categories (765kV, 400kV, 230kV, and 110kV) increased from 1,063 in 2022 to 1,102 by March 2025. Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) Chairman and Managing Director J Radha Krishnan said that setting up new substations depended on the financial situation of the board, and acquiring land, especially for 400 kV substations, has become a major challenge. Nearly 15 acres of land is needed for 400 kV substations. He said that despite the challenges, the department has managed to get land in delta districts and also in Ambattur for 400 kV substations. He added that land has also been identified in Sengipatti near Thanjavur and a few other locations. 'We are planning to build 71 new substations in the coming months as part of the centre's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. In the first phase, we will require an amount between Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 1,500 crore,' he said.
