Power sector woes to continue
TNN, Apr 14, 2010,
HYDERABAD: Despite the expected drop in the demand from the farm sector due to completion of the rabi season in the second week of April, the power cuts for the domestic sector will continue till the end of summer, power utilities officials made it clear on Tuesday. However, in a relief for the industrial sector, the state government has decided to ease the power cuts in a phased manner from the third week of April.

The agricultural sector accounts for about 40 per cent of the total power consumption. But there will be no relief for the domestic consumers even after this demand comes down because the hydel generation, which is around 430 MW a day at present, will be stopped in a few days due to non-availability of water in the reservoirs.

"As a result, the two-hour power cuts imposed on the city and its outskirts will continue till the onset of the monsoon," an official said after a review meeting here on Tuesday.

In fact, the hydel generation during 2009-10 had come down by 29 per cent compared to the previous year. As against a projection of 8,960 MU (3,69,542 MW) by the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission, the power generation has been only 5,510 (2,29,584 MW) for various reasons including late inflows into the reservoirs.

The daily demand for this April is hovering around 10,396 MW as compared to 9,934 MW during the same period last year. The shortfall is around 1,50 MW which is being met by imposing power cuts of two hours in urban areas and four to six hours in mandal and rural areas.

Power utilities also claim the demand has increased by about 4 per cent in view of more air-conditioners operating due to the unusually high day and night temperatures this April. The energy department also anticipates heavy demand for power from July once the kharif operations begin. Hence, the government has decided not to shut down AP Genco thermal stations and NTPC (Simhadri) for the annual overhaul.

Anticipating another increase of about 15 per cent power consumption next year, the meeting decided to go in for short-term procurement agreement of power up to 500 MW for one year with GMR barge-mounted plant near Kakinada (200 MW) and Navabharat (98 MW) and some other plants.