The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) is inspecting commercial outlets that have additional digital display boards and is levying tariff that is applicable for lavish illumination.
An official of the Corporation said commercial outlets were permitted to have name boards and special illuminations on these boards at the regular commercial tariff. However, there were many outlets now that installed digital display boards with scrolls and advertisements and these boards were placed on rooftops or on roadsides. Retail outlets that had even serial lights would have to pay charges applicable for lavish illumination for it. So, the display boards would also come under higher tariff.
K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, said there was an increasing trend of retail outlets having digital display boards with continuous scrolls just outside the outlet and on roof tops. This not only attracted higher electricity tariff, but was also not permitted under the Indian Road Congress norms. These were advertisements and would divert the attention of the road users. The Tangedco should identify such boards and bring them under illumination tariff. The retailers should also go in for separate connection for these boards, he said.

www.thehindu.com