[merinews ]
5 thermal units in Haryana and Punjab closed due to less power
demand

Following wide spread rain the power demand of Haryana and Punjab crashed. Power utilities were forced to close units due to no demand of power, which is completely opposite of what usually happens in the summer.
CJ: V K Gupta

Mon, May 23, 2011

WIDE SPREAD rains in the northern region crashed power demand in all the states of the region giving much needed relief from power cuts. But 5 thermal units of Haryana and equal number in Punjab were boxed up due to less power demand.

In Haryana, HPGCL had to close 5 thermal units as the power demand crashed from 1050 lakh units to 698 lakh units. Four units producing 680 MW at Panipat along with one 300 MW unit at Yamuna Nagar Thermal were closed following rains in the region. The state, which was overdrawing from the grid to meet the demand surrendered power in the grid. The frequency was high and most of the times free power over drawl was possible.

The state was producing 1450 MW following closure of unit no. 1,4, 6 and 8 of the Panipat thermal plant. Yamuna Nagar unit 2 was also boxed up due to less demand.

In adjoining Punjab, power demand, which was above 1450 lakh units, came down to 1025 lakh units, forcing closure of three units of 210 MW each at Ropar thermal plant. At Lehra Mohabbat two units were boxed up due to no power demand. Rain and storm uprooted the towers and damaged the transmission lines at many places. It will take at least one week to restore all the lines.