End Use of Electricity

End use of electricity

Electricity generation-consumption process is a dynamic one i.e. electricity must be generated as it is being consumed. End use of electricity refers to any use of electricity for productive development in any sector including public lighting, water supply, education, health, etc. In rural areas, some of the major business ventures that consume electricity are:

1. Mills
2. Grills
3. Dairy and milk chilling centers
4. Soap factories
5. Noodle factories
6. Meat processing factories
7. Cold stores
8. Printing press
9. Furniture manufacturers
10. Animal farms, etc

The feasibility of any project of electrification depends primarily on two factors which are listed below.

1. The level of electricity consumption
2. Willingness of the consumers to pay

The feasibility of any project increases with an increase in consumption of electricity. As more electricity is consumed, the revenue earned by a utility also increases which lowers the generation cost per unit and increases the profit as a whole.

The consumers must be willing to pay the price of electricity they consume. The tariff so imposed on the customers must cover the generation cost as well as transmission, distribution and maintenance cost. Along with that, it must also yield a fair amount of profit in return.

Concept of PEU (Productive End Uses) of electricity

This concept facilitates and promotes the creation and growth of various productive activities and ventures ranging from small businesses to large industries. The amount of electricity consumed depends directly on the number of PEUs created or expanded and as the amount of electricity consumed by the PEU consumers increases, the revenue earned by the utility also increases.

Factors affecting PEU of electricity

Some of the various factors affecting PEU program are as follows.

• Availability of electric equipment

Availability of electrical equipment directly affects the amount of electricity being consumed. A PEU program should provide all the necessary information regarding the procurement of electrical equipment. It should also provide all the necessary training and technical assistance to the consumers regarding the installation, operation and maintenance of the equipment.

• Availability of qualified human resources

A business venture requires an adequate amount of qualified human resources in order to run and a PEU program implementers must be able to decide on the number of personnel required and the amount and level of training to be provided to them. Those involved in the program must be aware of the concept and objectives of the program.

• Coordination and promotion

The success of a PEU program depends largely on the coordination and collaboration of those involved in it. A clear strategy regarding the program's implementation should be developed and the involved personnel must be familiar with the strategy along with the concept and objectives of the program. Periodic monitoring and evaluation are also important to determine whether the program is running successfully and if any modification is required.

• Access to financial resources

To fund the purchase of electric equipment, a PEU program should provide information to the customers regarding the availability of financial institutions. If possible, the financial institutions willing to participate should be involved in the program.

• Access to a reliable market service

The service should be reliable in terms of continuity and supply so that the customers get assured that their equipment will work as rated and they will get the required return on their investment. Excessive voltage fluctuation should not occur which can potentially damage their equipment and the utilities should focus on satisfying the needs of their customers.

Other external factors such as political, economic and social stability, legal regulatory landscapes, etc. also affect the success/failure of a PEU program.

References

This article was prepared on the basis of class notes and the handouts provided by my lecturer Mr. Gopal Joshi Subedi.