Overview
The West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (WBSETCL) is a state-owned electricity transmission utility headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is responsible for the transmission of bulk electrical power across the state of West Bengal through a network of extra-high-voltage substations and transmission lines, and functions as the State Transmission Utility (STU) for the state.
Key facts
| Name | West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company Limited |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | WBSETCL |
| Type | State government-owned public sector undertaking |
| Industry | Electric power transmission |
| Headquarters | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Area served | West Bengal |
| Owner | Government of West Bengal |
| Role | State Transmission Utility (STU) |
Background
WBSETCL was created as part of the restructuring of the erstwhile West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB), undertaken by the Government of West Bengal in line with the framework of the Electricity Act, 2003. Under this reform, the integrated functions of the WBSEB were unbundled into separate entities for generation, transmission and distribution, with WBSETCL taking up the transmission function. The distribution business was placed under the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL), while generation activities continued under the West Bengal Power Development Corporation and other entities.
Functions and operations
As the designated State Transmission Utility, WBSETCL is tasked with:
- Planning, construction, operation and maintenance of the intra-state transmission network in West Bengal.
- Operation of extra-high-voltage substations at 400 kV, 220 kV and 132 kV levels.
- Wheeling of electricity from generating stations and the inter-state grid to bulk consumers and distribution licensees within the state.
- Coordination with the State Load Despatch Centre and the Eastern Regional grid operated by the Power Grid Corporation of India.
Regulation
The tariffs, transmission charges and operational norms applicable to WBSETCL are determined by the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC), which regulates the electricity sector in the state. The company also functions within the broader framework set by the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission for matters of grid standards and inter-state transmission.
Significance
WBSETCL plays a central role in ensuring the reliable evacuation of power from generating stations within and outside West Bengal to load centres across the state, including the Kolkata metropolitan region, industrial belts in Howrah, Hooghly, Bardhaman and Durgapur–Asansol, and rural distribution networks. Its transmission backbone supports both the state-owned distribution utility WBSEDCL and the licensed area of the CESC Limited in Kolkata.
Related topics
- West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company
- West Bengal State Electricity Board
- West Bengal Power Development Corporation
- Power Grid Corporation of India
- Electricity sector in India
- Electricity Act, 2003
- Government of West Bengal
References
- Wikidata entity: Q7984447
- West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission, regulatory orders concerning transmission licensees in West Bengal.
- Government of West Bengal, Department of Power and Non-Conventional Energy Sources, notifications relating to the unbundling of the West Bengal State Electricity Board.