JOIN USBangaloreans will have to bear with one-hour power cut every morning with immediate effect as the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) is facing a shortage of 600 MW.
With the Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) stopping power generation completely, the state electricity supply companies (Escoms) are facing the heat. The Bescom’s decision is an upshot of the development.
“We are facing a shortage of about 600 MW,” Bescom Managing Director P Manivannan told Deccan Herald. Other districts under Bescom will face two-hour power cuts.
The UPCL, which has an agreement to supply 1,200 MW of power to the Escoms, has stopped supply citing scarcity of coal.
“We were just given a short notice stating that the power supply has been stopped. We had never bothered about the coal supply to them as they are a private entity and as per the agreement they are supposed to supply us power at a cost of Rs 3 per unit,” an official said.
Based on the Escoms’ request, the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) has increased production. “We have decided to impose load shedding to manage another 600 MW,” the official added.
Another official said scarcity of coal was only a pretext. The UPCL had secured a tariff hike of Re 1 per unit from the Central Electricity Appellate Tribunal (CEAT). The official alleged that UPCL had stopped power supply to compel the Escoms to pay the price fixed by the CEAT. “We have appealed against the tariff order and the matter is coming up for hearing before the tribunal on February 7, 2013. The company is now resorting to arm-twisting tactics,” the official alleged.
He said if the appellate tribunal’s order was implemented, the Escoms will have to pay UPCL at least Rs 600 crore as arrears. However, the power sector officials believe that the problem was temporary and the issue will be resolved after the hearing. Meanwhile, the Bescom said if the power cut continued longer than the time announced, customers can contact its representatives at 080-22873333.