Power company to charge fee for ads on poles

Kolkata: The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) will now charge money for putting advertisements on its distribution poles. The cable operators who use the poles to provide connections to households will also be charged.

A top official of WBSEDCL said there are as many as 3 crore electrical poles supplying power to 1.67 crore consumers across the state. “These poles are used by various firms for advertisements in the form of flexes, banners and posters. We will now charge them and the rates will depend on the display size and other factors,” the official said.

State power minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay had in May last year announced plans to bring revenue for WBSEDCL, which included allowing advertisements on consumer bills, electricity poles, on the walls of sub-stations and power stations, and setting up of mobile towers in vacant land belong to WBSEDCL.

A tender for selection of agencies has already been floated. “An agency will be roped in for a period of three years in each district. Those who want to put advertisements can contact them,” the official said.