Karnataka has been experiencing power cuts in the summer, almost every year since independence, except probably for 2 or 3 years in the 70s. This is despite the fact that within the state there has been considerable addition to the generating capacity and also additional support available from the Centre.

Due to phenomenal increase in demand from various sections of the society, including agriculture and industry, the power cuts have become more of a norm than an exception. As per the information available, the deficits are largely during the peak hours of the day, and the annual energy shortage is not huge.

Credible signs

Viewing the existing practice regarding the management of electricity assets, there are credible signs of a gap between demand and supply of electricity during the coming months. There are also indications that the state government will be forced to resort to either load shedding or purchasing additional power at much higher costs, or both.

These steps will surely affect the student community who will be preparing for various examinations in these months. Also it will create discomfort for the public during the hot summer and the possible impacts on agricultural and industrial activities are also a cause for concern. Purchasing additional power at much higher costs will also have direct impact on the financial status of supply companies. Such a situation may cause a huge financial burden on the state government.

This year, the monsoon was much better than that of last year and all our hydro reservoirs were reported to have reached the full levels. It should mean that the energy availability for the state for the current energy period from, let us say, September 2007 till July 2008 should be more than that of the previous year. So, why there should be deficits?

Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) should try to manage both the supply and demand simultaneously, with strong emphasis on the long term sustainability of such actions. ESCOMs should supply energy efficient CFL lamps to each of the existing consumers of electricity to replace the incandescent lamps. Even if we can ensure 50 per cent of the incandescent lamps in the state to be replaced by CFL lamps by March 2008, we may be able to reduce the state’s peak demand by about 300 MW, and save energy by about 50 to 60 MU per month.

State should encourage large scale use of solar energy for water heating and lighting in residences, hospitals, hotels etc. with the help of limited period subsidies and loans, if necessary. Even if 75 per cent of these All Electric Home (AEH) consumers, and 50 per cent of the houses, offices, schools and street lights can be encouraged to install solar panels for water heating and for lighting, a conservatively estimated 1,500 MW of morning peak demand and about 80 MU of energy per month could be saved.

Discussions with the owners of captive power plants which are lying idle for want of suitable tariff mechanism and necessary incentives to run them at rated capacity can provide good amount of peak demand support and energy for the summer months. 

Perpetual benefits

The ESCOM should plan in advance for necessary maintenance, and operate the existing generating stations such that none of them develop problem during the summer months, and especially during the morning and evening peak hours.

The ESCOMs should implement staggered industry working hours in different parts of the state to reduce peak demand during evening hours. They should also begin a massive and concerted campaign on energy efficiency and conservation.

These measures will not only eliminate the need for power cuts or for buying additional power from other states at huge costs, but they will also improve the voltage at all points of the grid, and also will provide a much better quality electricity to our farmers. Investment in these measures will be much less than that required to buy electricity from neighbouring states, and will also result in perpetual benefits to the state like reduced Transmission & Distribution losses, improved quality of electricity, and economic and social welfare of the state.

(The writer is a Consultant to Electricity Industry.)