Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation

The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited, also known as KPTCL, is the sole electricity transmission and distribution company in state of Karnataka.^[2] Its origin was in Karnataka Electricity Board. Until 2002, the Karnataka Electricity Board (KEB) handled electricity transmission and distribution across the state. It was then broken up, with Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) established to manage the transmission business.^[3] This electricity transmission and distribution entity was corporatised to provide efficient and reliable electric power supply to the people of Karnataka state. KPTCL scope of work includes the handling of large projects in the field of energy.

Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited

Native name	ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಪ್ರಸರಣ ನಿಗಮ ನಿಯಮಿತ
Company type	Public company
Industry	Power Transmission
Predecessor	Karnataka Electricity Board
Founded	1 August 1999 (25 years ago) (1999-08-01)
Headquarters	Bengaluru, India
Area served	Karnataka
Key people	K. J. George, Chairman Pankaj Kumar Pandey, IAS MD Vijay.B.P., KAS, Director (Administration and Human Resource)[1]
Products	Power Transmission
Revenue	₹ 2,875.43 crore (2015–16) ₹ 2395.80 crore (2014–15)
Subsidiaries	Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Hubli Electricity Supply Company Kalaburagi Electricity Supply Company Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation
Website	kptcl.karnataka.gov.in

Zones and circles

Zone Name	Description
MESCOM	Mangalore Electricity Supply Company
BESCOM	Bangalore Electricity Supply Company
HESCOM	Hubli Electricity Supply Company
GESCOM	Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company
CESCOM	Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation

ESCOMS buy power from power generating companies like Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) and other IPPs (Independent Power Producers) like GMR, Jindal, Lanco(UPCL) etc., and pay transmission charge as per KERC traiff to KPTCL for transmitting the power.

Governance

Company is governed under the purview of Ministry of Energy. Department is headed by a cabinet grade minister. Currently Siddaramaiah is the minister under the chief ministership of him.^[4]

Criticism

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) came under intense criticism with its telephonic helpline number 1912, due to rampant power cuts, after which Bescom added mobile numbers to its existing call answering facilities for different regions in the city.^[5]