Choices to Buy : Choices to Sell ?

 

 

Choices  to  Borrow  ?  Choices  to  Lend  ?

Context :

Niti Aayog pitches for greater financial autonomy for state-owned discoms  /  Busi Standard / 04 Aug. 21

 

Extract :

In a report titled ' Turning Around the Power Distribution Sector  (  Aug 2021 )  ', Niti Aayog said the performance of state-owned discoms is also determined by the ability of the respective State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERC) to revise tariff frequently and adequately.

"...For a state-owned utility to succeed, there should be a clear separation between utility and state. The utility should have operational and financial autonomy." it suggested.

Noting that discoms have a monopoly in their area of functioning, the think tank suggested that delicensing distribution can introduce competition and enable retail choice for customers.

"This reform can be challenging and should be accompanied with careful market design.

The total loss is estimated to be Rs 90,000 crore in FY 2021.

" As long as the markets continue to provide low-cost power, discoms should not sign new expensive long-term thermal PPA," it opined.

According to the government think tank, discoms should use time of day (ToD) tariffs to incentivise changes in demand patterns.

"Dynamic tariffs, enabled by advanced metering and a smart grid, can reduce the discoms' power purchase costs and help manage peak loads," it said.

According to an official statement, Niti Aayog member V K Saraswat said that this report presents policymakers with a menu of reform options to put the distribution sector on the track of efficiency and profitability.

==================================================

 

MY  TAKE  :

Key recommendations of Niti Aayog are :

#    De-licensing of distribution

#    Competition among DISCOMS

#    Choice for customer ( from whom to buy power )

#    Market Design

#    No long-term PPA with THERMAL POWER plants

#    Time-of-the-Day Tariff ( ToD )

#    Dynamic Tariff

#    Advanced Metering

#    Smart Grid

 

Some of these, I have listed in my following e-mails to our Policy Makers over past 4 YEARS  :

Congratulations, Shri Vijaybhai Rupaniji, ………………………………[ 30 Dec 2020 ]

 

Extract :

 [ A ]…………Gujarat Policy :

               GROUP OWNERSHIP for Self-Consumption based on ratio of

               OWNERSHIP

               My Suggestion :

               ( source : Congratulations , Shri R K Singhji / 19  Nov 2020 ]

 

         #  Introduce “ Co-operative Farming of Solar Power / CFSP “ { call it a

             kind of “ Contract Farming “ }

            

           ( incorporate this into just released FARM LAWS to encourage setting-

           up of “ Solar Power Farmers Cooperative Society “, along the lines of

           “Dairy Farmers’  AMUL Milk Cooperative Society “)

                    

                     

                #  Under CFSP, provide 30 % Capital Cost Subsidy to companies setting

                    up large ( > 500 MW ) Solar  Farms in remote areas ( eg : desert areas

                    of Kutch – Spiti – Lahul – Ladakh etc , which have a potential to

                   generate 315 GW of Solar power )

                         

                         

          Read : https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2018/08/from-ladakh-with-love-and-sun-shine.html

 

                  #   1 MW of ( grid ) solar will need 100,000 sq ft of solar panels ( 1 KW

                        will need 100 sq ft )

                  #   The estimated cost of 1 MW solar power plant is approx. Rs 4 - 6

                       crore.

                  #   That works out to approx. Rs 400 - 600 / sq ft of Capital cost for

                       Solar panels

                  #  Solar Farm company can “ Sell “ ownership rights of solar panels to

                      individuals in modules of 1000 sq ft, ( costing Rs 4- 6 lakh per

                     module ). These rights can be sold / transferred to any buyer, only

                     with prior permission of the Solar Farm Company concerned

                      

                #  Each module ( of 1,000 sq ft ) will generate 10 KW of power, which

                    Company will feed into a  NATIONAL GRID ( free ) .

                    

               #  Each such Co-operative Company can reserve / own by itself, 30 % of

                   Solar Panels for generating power for sale in free market   

                     

              #  My nearest DISCOM will supply me those 10 KW, free of cost ( ie:

                  deduct from my monthly usage ) .

                  Any excess over my actual consumption, to be credited to my account

              #  Depending upon my usage / need , I as an individual CO-OPERATIVE

                  OWNER , can “ buy “ any number of STANDARD MODULES, and from

                 any number of Cooperative Farming companies or other Co-op Owners

                

                  

             #  This set-up will require NATIONAL SOLAR EXCHANGE in

                 which ALL discoms will be mandated to become members

                 

      

 ================================================           

[ B ]  … Gujarat Policy :

                    DISCOMs to purchase SURPLUS ENERGY

                    My Suggestion :

                    (source : Congratulations , Shri R K Singhji / 19  Nov 2020 ]

             #    My nearest DISCOM will supply me those 10 KW, free of cost ( ie:

                   deduct from my monthly usage ) . Any excess over my actual

                   consumption, to be credited to my account

                  

==================================================

[ C ] …………….Gujarat Policy :  

                   This policy will enable any one… who want to generate electricity

                   and sell it after own consumption

                   

                   My Suggestion :

                   ( source : Not Good Enough ! / 02 Dec 2017 )

                   And I hope, it recommends amending Electricity Act whereby ,

                   Anyone can generate and SELL electricity, anytime and

                   to anyone and at any price 

                    

  ==================================================            

 [ D ]  …….  Gujarat Policy  : 

                 LEASE OF ROOFTOP / PREMISES

                 My Suggestion :

                ( source : Not Good Enough ! / 02 Dec 2017 )

                #  For reaching the target of 100 GW of Solar power generation by Nov

                    2022, we need to install 1.5 GW capacity EVERY MONTH for the

                    next 60 month ( remaining 85 GW after current installations

                    totaling 15 GW )

                  

                                                  

                #   That would require an investment of Rs 10,000 Crore per month,

                      every month for the next60  months ! ( @ One Billion dollars

                     per GW )

                     

                 

               #   Part of this investment will have to come from Roof Top

                    Solar projects, to be set up by :

                     

                       *    An Individual home-owner ( who may also want to sell surplus

                            power to a neighbour )

 

                        *   A Coop Housing Society wanting its huge unutilized terrace to

                            produce solar power, for its members

                            

                         

                       *   A Business which will install these roof-tops at its own cost and is

                           allowed to sell power to the  residents of a building

                           

====================================================

 

 [ E ]   ….. ..Gujarat Policy :

                 POWER AT LOW COST

           Currently, the industry gets power at an average cost of ₹8 per unit.

           The new policy will help bring it down to ₹4.5 per unit, savings for

            #  residential units could be in the range of ₹ 1.77 to ₹ 3.70 per unit

            #  for industrial units it will be about ₹ 2.99 to ₹ 4.31 per unit,

          and for the third party buyers it will be in  the range of ₹0.91 to ₹ 2.30

          per unit.

      

            My Suggestion :

                 ( source :   Solar Power at Rs 1 per Kwh ?  /  29 Jan 2017  )

                 In India , we are planning to add Solar Power to the tune of 100 GW

                 by 2022

                How can we make that happen? And, can we make that happen at Re

                1  per Kwh ? or less ?

                We can, if  CAPITAL COST  is  ZERO !  No interest burden !

                How ?

                It can happen if NDA government musters enough courage

                to implement what I have been suggesting for past 2 years, viz :

              

              

               *  Government declares units belonging to " Solar Power ( Panel Mfr

                  / Power Production& Distribution / Ancillary Mfr  ) " as    a "  SOS "

                  industry

                 

              

              *   Units will need to register as such with Department of Company

                  Affairs ( DIPP )

                   

               *  Units will be exempt  from paying Corporate Income Tax for 10

                   years , on whatever income they earn ( only those starting

                   operations latest by 31 March 2018 )

                  

No Godfather for Rooftop Solar ? ……………………………………………..[ 01 June 2021 ]

 

Extract :

        Dear Shri R K Singhji ( Minister for Power ) :

Ø    It is high time we stop limiting our SOLAR VISION HORIZON like a “ Frog

      in the Well “

Ø  It is time to remember that the nomenclature : Roof Top Solar “ , somehow

    ties us down to the words ROOF TOP , which is only just one of the locations

    which can be used to harness Solar Energy

Ø  Solar Energy can also be harvested at other locations on Earth, such as

   FARMS , DESERTS, LAKES, MOUNTAIN TOPS, HIGHWAYS , TRAIN TRACKS

 , etc., or even through solar panels farms in  SPACE ( low earth orbits ? )

 , beaming electricity down to Earth-based receivers ( using micro-waves ? )

Ø We must break loose  from the narrowly defined, Roof-Top Solar / Land-based Solar and latch on to the all-encompassing concept of ,

SOLAR  ENERGY  TRADING INFRASTRUCTURE  (  SETI  )

 

  A Tale of Two States …………………………………………………………………..[ 28 Oct 2020 ]

 

Extract :

MY SUGGESTION :

      Out-of-the-Box Concept :

In my building, we are 10 flat-owners. Each needs 20 KW of solar – total of

 200 KW

That would require 20,000 sq ft . But the terrace is no more than 2,000 sq ft . Not enough for all

So, I ask :

    Why do we need space in our own terrace in a Mumbai building for

    getting200 KW of Solar Power ?

  

    Why cannot we use 20,000 sq ft of space, 500 Km away from Mumbai, in

    Kutch desert ?

     

    In a nut-shell, produce solar power in Kutch desert and consume it in

    Mumbai !

   Or produce power in Ladakh and consume it in Kolkata

 

 

Dear Shri R K Singhji,

 

In the process of TRANSFORMING INDIA, we need to take, not only decisions

 which are OUT-OF-BOX , but we need to take these VERY FAST

When poverty is rampant and poor people ( 400 million ? ) are dying , either

because they have lost their  income due to pandemic or because their huts got

washed away in floods, we do not have the luxury of endless ANALYSIS of “ What

If “ type of scenarios

Sure, we will make mistakes, as we did in the IMPLEMENTATION – STAGES of our

earlier BOLD / OUT-of-BOX decisions to TRANSFORM INDIA , such as De-

Monetization / GST / E-Comm / Data Protection / CoWin platform etc

But, in each of these, we learned our lessons, did “ Course Correction “– and came out stronger

We did not allow endless analysis to produce an “ ACTION PARALYSIS “  !

I urge you to consider my above-listed suggestions for URGENT IMPLEMENTATION

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RcruitGuru.com  /  05 Aug 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jio Solutions : from KIRANAS to CARS ?

 

 

Going by the following report, Shri Rajeev Chaba ( MG Motors India ) and Shri Kiran Thomas ( Jio Solutions ) deserve a huge applause for setting in motion, a CONNECTED CAR SOLUTIONS REVOLUTION :

 

Jio, MG Motor Partner for Connected Car Solutions in Upcoming SUVs  / Gadgets360  / 03 Aug

Extract :

MG Motor India on Tuesday announced a partnership on the Internet of Things ( IoT ) space with digital services provider Jio.

The car maker will provide seamless integration of IT systems enabled by Jio's IoT solution in its upcoming mid-size SUV.

The association will enable robust new-age mobility solutions, underlining the marquee carmaker's zeal to build futuristic mobility applications and facilitate magical experiences, said the companies in a joint statement.

"Jio's new-age connected vehicle solution is a combination of hardware, software, and connectivity that will enable users to access trending infotainment and real-time telematics on the go as it brings the benefits of digital life to a vehicle and to people on the move," said the companies.

Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director of MG Motor India, (rajeev.chaba@mgmotor.co.in )  said technology and innovation are leading the connected car space in the automobile industry.

"This partnership will ensure our next mid-sized connected SUV further simplifies the driving experience and ensures safety backed by technology," said Chaba.

Kiran Thomas, Director and President of Jio, ( kthomas@ril.com ), said the company has been building an ecosystem of cutting-edge technology products and solutions for Indian users.

"Jio's eSIM, IoT and streaming solutions will enable MG users to access real-time connectivity, infotainment and telematics. It is a commitment to technological evolution in the automobile industry with innovation as its key pillar," he said.

MG Motor India had begun its journey in India with the launch of the country's first Internet-connected car - MG Hector - followed by the pure electric internet SUV - MG ZS.

==================================================

MY  TAKE :

Ø  Here is how I had envisaged “ The Shape of Things to Come “ in :

Internet of Vehicles ( IoV ) ? ……………………………..[ 04 March 2017 ]

 

Extract :

I expect that , over the next 5 years , all of these will converge into an Internet of Vehicles ( IoV ), when :

 

Most vehicles will  be electric ( essentially , “ computers on wheels “ ), automatically determining the best / shortest, route / stops and optimizing vehicle performance . Mobile Apps will be a governing device

 

Vehicles will be internet connected with one another , exchanging data

 

Vehicles will be internet connected with servers of Transport Authorities / Traffic Police / Pollution Control Boards and a host of other governmental / institutional organizations , and be relaying all sorts of data  24*7 .  Vehicles will report accidents ( being hit ) and thefts ( being stolen ) , on their own !

 

All vehicles will carry a whole lot of “ Sensors “ , which will continuously “ monitor “ the conditions of the vehicles and relay the same to all the authorities

 

All vehicles will be equipped with RADAR – LIDAR –CAMERAS – GPS locators – / Augmented Reality  etc , to avoid collisions / accidents

 

Prepaid RFID chips ( linked to Aadhar / Bank Accounts  ? ) for Road Taxes / Insurance Premiums / Toll charges / Fines / Carbon Credits ( through DBT )

 

 

 In-Built Sensors will measure , ( and request maintenance on their own ! ),

 

     #   Engine ( or Electric Motor ) temperature

 

     #   Pressures / Displacements / Compression Ratios in case of petrol / diesel

 

          Vehicles / Battery Charge Levels / fuel consumption

 

     #   Emission Levels ( PM2.5 / CO2 etc ) in petrol / diesel vehicles

 

     #   Tyre pressures / wear and tear of moving parts / RPM

 

     #   Vehicle speed / acceleration / braking distance

 

     #   Proximity to other moving / stationary vehicles or objects

 

     #   Weather conditions / Visibility levels / Traffic Density

 

     #   Condition of the road being traversed ( co-efficient of friction )

 

     #   Condition of the person driving ( sleepy / drunk etc )

 

     #   Whatever else you want “ measured / monitored / relayed “

 

RELATED READINGS :

Intelligent Transport System …………………………………..[ 07 Oct 2017 ]

 

Extract :

 

Business Line ( 07 Oct ) carries following news :

  

NITI Aayog panel to work on Intelligent Transport Systems

 

To work on traffic, parking management and maintain roads in a cost-effective manner, NITI Aayog and International Road Federation on Friday signed a statement of intent to cooperate in Intelligent Transportation Systems.

The collaboration will focus on upgrading the parking situation in the cities, road safety, reducing urban traffic congestion, and improving the security of passenger and traffic.

Announcing the formation of a committee at a roundtable on ITS, Anil Srivastava, Advisor, NITI Aayog,( 23096551 / 23096522 ) said,

“ The committee developing the National ITS policy will comprise stakeholders from Central, State, foreign ITS companies and private partners who are active in the sector. Also, it will set uniform standards to implement the policy in various parts of the country ”.

==================================================

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  04 Aug 2021

Explaining e-RUPI ? But end up Confusing ?

 

 

Context :

PM Modi to launch e-Rupi today: How does it work, benefits, all you need to know

 

Extract :

WHAT IS E-RUPI?

E-Rupi is a cashless and contactless instrument for digital payment. It is either QR code-based or SMS string-based e-voucher.

This voucher when generated will reach the mobile of the beneficiaries.

This voucher can be redeemed without a card, digital payments app or internet banking access.

This seamless one-time payment mechanism connects the sponsors of the services with the beneficiaries and service providers. It also ensures that payment to the service provider is made only after the transaction is completed.

E-RUPI BENEFITS

It is pre-paid in nature and assures timely payment to the service provider without the involvement of any intermediary.

It can also be used for delivering services under schemes meant for,

#    Providing drugs and nutritional support under Mother and Child welfare

      schemes,

#   TB eradication programmes,

#  Drugs and diagnostics under schemes like Ayushman Bharat  / Pradhan Mantri

   Jan Arogya Yojana / fertiliser subsidies etc.

   

Private sectors too can leverage these digital vouchers as part of their employee welfare and corporate social responsibility programmes, the statement said.

 

MY  TAKE :

Ø  This is a one more welcome step towards easing / facilitating , Digital Payments and towards a “ Less Cash “  society ( - it is perhaps impractical at this stage, to think in terms of a CASH-LESS society )

Ø  Another report ( Business Line ) reads :

“  With the help of this, the Service Provider ( - I presume, a Shop or a Self-Employed person or an Organized Business ), gets the payment DIRECTLY into his account. Any Government Agency or Corporate can generate e-RUPI through its Partner Banks …. e-RUPI is not only PERSON-SPECIFIC, but also PURPOSE-SPECIFIC ……the Voucher System will enable all beneficiaries, including FEATURE PHONE users…

Ø  Can Corporate use e-RUPI for paying monthly salaries / wages ?

Ø  Does this system work as under ?

                                  E – RUPI PROCESS FLOW CHART

	Example # 1	Example # 2
Voucher Issuer	Agriculture Ministry( Govt Agency )	L&T ( a Corporate )
Issuer’s Bank (Issues vouchers)	SBI	Kotak
Voucher Amount / Account Number	Rs 7,000 each ( for 1 year benefit )	Rs 6,000 each ( for 1 year benefit )
Beneficiary	Farmers	Employees
No of Vouchers	14 crore	5,000 ( No of WFH employees )
Issuer gives to his Bank	Mobile Numbers of each farmer	Mobile No of each WFH employee
Purpose of Voucher	To buy Fertilizer ( Goods )	To get Internet ( Service )
Goods / Service Provider	RCF / IFFCO	7-Star
Bank of Service Provider	RBL	Bandhan

 

PROCESS ENVISAGED BY ME :

Ø  Issuer asks his Bank to issue XYX number of Vouchers ( each voucher of a specific amount and carrying Mobile Number of the Recipient ). No need to provide to the Issuing bank, names of the beneficiaries ?

Ø  Bank generates vouchers and transfers the vouchers to the Central Server of the Issuer and debits the Issuer’s bank account with the total amount. Bank sends a detailed e-mail to the Issuer

Ø  In turn, the Central Server of Issuer sends each voucher ( to each beneficiary ) as SMS / QR code on beneficiary’s mobile number

Ø  SMS tells the beneficiary voucher details : WHO sent / WHAT for / Amount / WHERE to redeem 

 

Ø  Beneficiary approaches SERVICE PROVIDER for giving Goods / Services desired

Ø  Service Provider provides the goods / service

Ø  Upon “ Confirmation “ by the beneficiary to the Bank of the Issuer ( how ? ), that he has actually received the GOODS / SERVICE mentioned in the Voucher, the Bank of the Issuer will effect payment to the Service Provider ( How will the Issuer get this “ transaction completed “ info ? )

Ø  How exactly will the Service Provider “ receive “ the payment ? How will his bank account get credited with the payment amount ?

Ø  Would the Service Provider need to “ forward “ to his Banker, “ payment received “ details ?

Ø  Would that “ payment received “ details be in the form of “ Redeemed voucher “ ?

Ø  Would the Service Provider’s bank account be in “ Rupees “ or in “ vouchers “ ?

Ø  In this entire process, is there ( even a remote ) possibility that either the Government or the Issuer’s Bank or the Service Provider’s Bank or NPCI , would be able to continuously / dynamically compile following Database ( without having to SNOOP or ask for anyone’s PERMISSION ) :

#    WHO    purchased ( each beneficiary )

#    WHAT   purchased ( goods or services )

#    WHEN   purchased ( Date=Month-Year )

#   WHAT price   purchased ( Rupees per Unit )

#   WHERE   purchased ( details of each Service Provider )

 

I urge Smt Sitharamanji / Shri Piyush Goyalji to :

#  Prepare an OFICIAL / AUTHENTIC process of e-RUPI and publish on

    several online / offline media

#  Avoid any possible allegations ( of snooping / surveillance / compilation

    of  LIFE-LONG  BUYING  HISTORY  of millions of beneficiaries ),

    by making clear statements in Lok Sabha

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@rcruitGuru.com  /  03 Aug 2021