Mangalore : The annual meeting and public hearing of Mangalore Electric Supply Company (Mescom) Limited was held at the conference hall in the DC’s office on April 3, Tuesday.

Presenting the annual report, Mescom managing director Vijaya Narasimha, said that there is need for the implementation of HVDS due to the presence of large single-phase circuits.

He also said that the company plans to set up HVDS by procuring single-phase transformers and started a GIS survey of its distribution transformers for the development of the reliable TC data base which will be prepared in the next 3 – 4 months. He also said that Mescom has also identified Puttur Division to implement HVDS.

He also stated that Mescom’s require purchasing of energy from generators in order to cater to the requirements of its consumers at the maximum level.

Listing out the factors responsible for the rise in supply cost, Narasimha said that there is increase in power purchase cost, rise in O&M costs owing to increase in interest rate, finance charges, and inflation, and others.

When he requested the Mescom chairman increase the electricity rates, Latha R. Kini, the president of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, objected and said that Mescom only shows losses while making profits every year. Later she also submitted a letter of objection to Shrinivas Murthy, the chairman of KERC.