Punjab Power Corpotration: Power purchase will go northward
Saturday, March 24, 2012 - 11:45
By Vinod Gupta
CHANDIGARH: Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) bill for power purchase will go northward due to increased power demand , costly short term power purchase and likely increased generation costs.

A number of initiatives for construction of new thermal projects by private companies were taken by the Punjab government in last five years. Some projects have been awarded on competitive bidding basis and others were signed through Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) route as per new generation policy.

But sadly none of the projects offered to private companies have reached the completion stage. The first unit of Talwandi Sabo is expected by the end of this year. The ever increasing power demand and power generation remaining stagnant , the gap will have to be built through power purchase. PSPCl expects unmetered agriculture load in state to increase from present 10993 million units to 11921 million units next financial year.

PSPCL has recently signed short-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with different firms to supply eight-hour power to agricultural pump sets during the paddy season this year. The total power to be purchased for the paddy season would be around 3,200 million units (MUs) at Rs. 4 per unit. The cost of the power being purchased would amounts to Rs 128 crore.

PSPCL in its tariff petition before regulatory commission has projected that power purchase worth Rs. 7207 crore would be purchased in 2012-13.The power purchase during current financial year is likely to be Rs.5608 crore. The power purchase was less during current financial year due to good monsoon .PSPCL procures its power from the central generating stations and other external sources.

The gap between demand and supply is met mainly through power purchases from sources outside the state. The major sources from which PSPCL procures power are central generating Stations, traders , banking Arrangements and over drawls from grid.

The total purchase expected in 2012-13 is 18917 million units. This purchase includes 14420 million units on long term basis and 4497 million units on short turn basis. The projected power purchase cost of Rs.7207 crore will increase on account of increase in coal prices and increase of railway fright charges.PSPCL’s own generation from thermal units is likely to be 17374 million units and from Hydro projects 8345 million units.

The Hydro projects generation includes Punjab’s share in BBMB of 4210 million units. The power over drawls from northern grid at low frequency will also increase in summer.