100 years of electricity in city

Electrifying: City will mark century of light
Deccan Herald

Hydel power was used from the Shivanasamudram Station to light the first electric bulb in Bangalore over a century ago.

Light has travelled a century in Bangalore, literally. Friday marks the 100th year of electrification in Bangalore, which put it on the country’s map as among the first to be lit through hydel power.

The City’s race with time has seen its surging demand for power met with erratic and at times inept supply. With a customer base of around 22,00,000 and monthly revenue of Rs 265 crore, the picture just seems to get bigger for Bescom. Catering to around 16,00,000 households, Bescom supplies 18 million units of power every day with 52 sub-stations.

But if the city’s growth rates are any indicators, the numbers are all set to go north.

It was on August 5, 1905 that the then member of the Viceroy’s Council John Hewett inaugurated the first lighting scheme for Bangalore by switching on the power sub-station installed near K R Market. As part of the scheme, a 57 km-long transmission line was put up between the City and Kolar Gold Mines, which had already received electricity from the Shivanasamudram Hydro Electricity Generation Station.

In fact, it was the Shivanasamudram Station that generated electricity for commercial operations for the first time in South Asia, in 1902. Also, the transmission line between Shivanasamudram and the Gold Mines had the distinction of being the first and longest high-voltage power line in the world with a total transmission of 720 KV.

According to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited’s records, two transformers of 3/450 KV and 35/2.2 KV capacity were installed to supply power to Binny Mill, Tobacco Company and the Railway Workshop. The total cost of the entire project was Rs 5,86,126. The company was then called the Mysore State Electricity Board.

First initiative

It was in 1904 that the then Chief Engineer of the supply system Mike Hachin recommended the British government to bring electricity to Bangalore, soon after the supply of power to the Gold Mines. Hachin in his letter stated that as mining operations in the Gold Mines may stop any time, there was a need for setting up a transmission line to Bangalore City. On May 30, 1904 the government approved the project.

The generating capacity of the Shivasamudram Power Station gradually increased to meet the growing demand for power. Electricity was extended to Mysore City in 1908, when power supply for industrial use commenced.

As part of the centenary celebrations, Bescom is organising a function at Ravindra Kalakshetra on Friday at 5 pm. Chief Minister N Dharam Singh will be the chief guest and give away the best performance award to the three best divisions. The evening will also be marked by a cultural programme.