JOIN USState consumed 8,646 mw power on a day: Karandlaje
Do you know soaring temperature had triggered a demand for huge supply of power this summer?
Minister for Energy Shobha Karandlaje on Friday disclosed that the power supply in a day had touched 8,646 mega watt, owing to more consumption of power to beat the heat through ceiling fans and air-conditioners. Following this, it was anticipated that the demand would remain in peak up to April 20 against the normal April 25, but there is less demand since April 10.
In Bangalore city alone, the demand for power this summer had touched additional 350 mega watt, when the State is supplying 180 million units of power against the actual demand of 250 million units of power.
The minister who is never to miss the opportunity of making an appeal to the people to switch over to power saving mode by using LED and CFL bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs, said that it would help save at least of 450 mw to 500 mw of power per day.
The minister exuded confidence that the growing demand for power with every passing day will be addressed with the commissioning of new projects. The second unit at Bellary and another at Udupi is expected to add 500 million units and 600 million units respectively to the power grid in a month’s span. While another 600 million units to 700 million units of power is expected to be generated by other sources.
The minister reiterated that the shortage of coal has held most of the power projects from seeing the light of the day. Though the third unit of power generation at Bellary has completed its trial run of a day, the inauguration of the unit has been postponed twice for the want of coal. On the other efforts made to meet the requirements the minister said that in the previous budget alone they had sought to install 147 new stations.
Reports have been sought from various divisions to upgrade the stations if any to cater to the occasion.
The minister said that she has a vision to bring in transparency in the power sector where the customers should apply for services online and get all the related details- from the date of availing service to the reasons in case he or she is denied service.
Managing Director of Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (Cesc) Limited P Bore Gowda said that Cesc is expected to make a profit of Rs nine crore in the immediate previous fiscal, against Rs 11 crore of last year.
Various plans are in the final stages to augment power supply for uninterrupted services to
domestic sector, and improvement in service offered to agriculture sector.
The MD said the agriculture sector which was amounting to more losses, has been addressed, with the corporation’s initiative to regularise illegal pumpsets. Of the total 56,258 illegal pumpsets owning farmers, 49,147 have applied for regularisation of the device.
Preceding the programme, the minister launched the works taken up under Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (R-APDRP). She laid foundation for the corporate office of Cesc at the second stage of Vijayanagar, and opened Ramakrishna Nagar sub-division office at MUDA complex and Customer Care Centre (CCC) at the office of Cesc on Gagana Chumbi double road in Kuvempunagar.
LED in practice
Cesc which has been campaigning for using bulbs that consume less power, on Friday set an example at the programme organised at Kalamandira. The flex board on the dais had been lit with LED bulbs and it came to light only after Cesc MD Bore Gowda made an announcement to the applause of the gathering.