Thiruvananthapuram: The automatic switching system for street lights is much in demand in the state, with local bodies partnering with KSEB in this regard in a bid to save electricity, cut power bills and reduce carbon footprint. These lights automatically turn off at dawn and switch on when the sun sets.

Palakkad municipality is the latest to install the Kakatiya Nature Switch in Sultanpet and Big Bazar areas. According to KSEB chairman M. Sivasankar some local bodies in Thiruvananthapuram and other parts of the state have installed the automatic switches in an effort to save power.

The project is part of KSEB’s Demand Side Management (DSM) programme, which aims to improve energy savings through an incentivised scheme in order to ensure public participation.

The benefits of the automatic switches include timely lighting on the road, reducing energy wastage and minimise human supervision. Nature switch technology is based on advanced patented infrared sensing which automatically adjusts to seasonal day length.

KSEB has now decided to introduce the automatic switches in all local bodies and is going for a state-wide tender. “We will have to assess which is the superior technology for the automatic switches since a few such technologies are on offer and also have to consider its cost-effectiveness while picking for state-wide implementation,” said Sivasankar.

“The Palakkad municipality has reduced hefty maintenance costs due to the built-in protection mechanism provided by Nature Switch. Now we can deploy the same manpower for more productive work,” said K.B. Swaminathan, KSEB executive engineer. Meter reading is also introduced in places where automatic switches are introduced.