State to buy 1,000 MW of power from October

The Power Corporation of Karnataka Limited (PCKL) recently initiated the tender process to buy 500 MW of power. The government has already authorised it to purchase another 500 MW power through the Power Trading Corporation based on requirement, official sources told Deccan Herald.

The government’s move has raised eyebrows in political circles as it is being speculated that the BJP would go in for early Assembly elections in the State. The ruling party has 21 months left to complete its five-year term. The government had last year spent about Rs 3,000 crore on purchasing power. For procuring 1,000 MW of power for one-and-a-half years, the government may have to spend about Rs 4,000 crore, with the average cost being Rs 4.50 per unit of power, sources said.

The government had plans to go for power purchase from September this year. But due to copious rains across the State, it was decided to delay the purchase, they said.

By purchasing power, the government is planning to keep the water in the hydel reservoirs for the summer months. This will ensure 24x7 supply in urban areas and six hours (single phase) and six hours (three phase) supply in rural areas during summer.

Presently, the government is buying about 500 MW power from Jindal and Power Trading Corporation. While Bangalore is getting 24x7 power supply, other cities and towns are getting 23 hours of supply. In rural areas, the power utility is supplying seven hours (three phase) and nine hours (single phase) of power every day. The State is now consuming about 131 MW of power, which was about 121 MW in August last year, sources said.

In Shimoga district, the power utility is, however, not discriminating between urban and rural areas. The entire district is getting 22 hours of power supply. Former chief minister Yeddyurappa, who hails from Shimoga, had given an oral direction to the utility to ensure effective supply in the district when he was the chief minister. The utility still follows the order, sources said.