There was a time when citizens and power utilities alike dreaded the summer, which had become synonymous with power cuts. Photos of students preparing for exams under candlelight were regulars in newspapers. Power utilities such as the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) would prepare contingency plans to ensure maximum supply.
But since the last few years, Karnataka has been claiming to be a power surplus State, also emerging as the top ranker in renewable energy (RE).
But this has neither ensured power cut-free days in either the capital or the rest of the State nor has it helped in bringing down tariffs, which have only seen a steady increase in the recent past.
