Poor rains, outages at generating units hit power supply: DKS

The State has witnessed a huge loss in terms of power generation in August, owing to unforeseen outages in Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL), Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS) and units of the Central generating stations.

This has adversely affected power supply in the last one week. The loss is to an extent of 3,020 MW from the State and Central generating stations, according to Minister for Energy D K Shivakumar.

Addressing mediapersons on Sunday, the minister said poor monsoon had taken a toll on availability of hydroelectricity. As on August 15, the total storage in three major hydel reservoirs - Linganamakki, Mani and Supa - is 4,020 MU against 6,573 MU in 2014 and 7,892 MU in 2013, on the same day.

At present, the UPCL plant is shut down owing to technical glitches (capacity 1,200 MW). As against a peak demand of 8,500 MW, the actual peak demand met was 8,208 MW on August 6. Further, consequent to loss in generation between August 10 and 15, the demand met was 7,000 to 7,300 MW. As a result, there has been unscheduled load cut.
Temporary crisis

Bescom managing director Pankaj Kumar Pandey told Deccan Herald that the crisis was a temporary one and it would be resolved over the next few days. While BTPS has shut down for annual maintenance, UPCL had to shut down as heavy rains and high tides affected its cooling system. Then, there are technical glitches in central generating stations. Since all this happened together, there was a cascading effect, Pandey said.

To overcome this, the government has finalised tenders for purchasing 750 MW. This was originally supposed to be procured from September 15 to May 31.

However, in view of the current situation, the government has advanced this, from August 20 itself. A Power Purchase Agreement has been signed between Bescom and Global Energy Pvt Ltd, for supply of 90-133 MW from July to September and 100-150 MW from October to May 2016. This will be done through the 220 KV Chikodi-Kolhapur interstate line (the cost will be Rs 4.85 per unit).