Punjab faces power shortage of 18.3% in 2012-13: CEA

V K Gupta
11 October, 2012
Punjab will face a power shortage of 18.3 % and peak load shortage of 33.7 % for 2012-13 as per an annual report of Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The studies carried out for anticipated power supply position for the year 2012-13, indicate that there would be energy shortage of 9.3% and peak shortage of 10.6% in the country.
IN ITS Load Generation Balance Report (LGBR) for 2012-13, CEA has estimated power demand of Punjab as 48881 million units (MU) against estimated supply of 39918 MU. The maximum peak load demand has been estimated as 10890 MW against availability of 7216 MW.

The report covers the month-wise anticipated energy requirement and availability (in MU) as well as peak demand and availability (in MW) for the year 2012-13. This has been finalized after detailed discussions with the PSPCL / PSTCL. This does not include likely short term purchases by the state.

In the coming months power shortage will be 26.7 5 in October, 22.4 % in January and 23.9% in February. The maximum peak load shortage will be 18% in February followed by 17.4 % in October.

Punjab will not be adding any generation capacity in current financial year. The generating capacity addition of 17, 956 MW has been considered in the LGBR for 2012-13 for the whole country. This capacity addition of 17956 MW comprises of 15154 MW of thermal, 802 MW of hydro and 2000 MW of nuclear power stations.

The generation from new units considering their commissioning schedule has also been included in the estimates of the generation targets while finalizing the all India annual generation target of 930 billion units. The studies carried out for anticipated power supply position for the year 2012-13, indicate that there would be energy shortage of 9.3% and peak shortage of 10.6% in the country.

The energy availability in each state is worked out on the basis of generation from generating plants owned by the state, share of power from the common projects, allocation of firm power from Central generating stations and allocation from unallocated quota of power from Central generating stations as per the allocation in vogue.

Punjab has 1861 MW of firm allocation from central projects and another 100 MW as non-firm power. In the first six months of current financial year ending September 30, 920 MW Lehra Mohabatt thermal plant generated 3871 million units with plant load factor (PLF) of 95.81%. At 1260 MW Ropar thermal plant, the half yearly generation was 4808 MU with PLF of 86.98%, which is slightly less than the corresponding generation figures of 4811 MU with 86.94 % PLF.