Tamil Nadu power hunger leaves others in dark

Despite big bite for overdraft, it draws heavily

Sources in the power sector said the neighbouring State is overdrawing the power from central grid, depriving Karnataka of its share of power.

Experiencing scant rain, Tamil Nadu is utilising the power for the agricultural activities, while to add to Karnataka’s woes, the two units of Raichur Thermal Power Stations were not functioning.

Tushar Girinath, Managing Director, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) said Tamil nadu  is overdrawing 600 MW of power, while the other states including Karnataka have been forced to cut their share.

“The price of overdrawing is a high 17.50 paise per unit, but still Tamil Nadu is overdrawing. As per the latest information it had drawn 618 MW, while the share of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh has come down to ‘minus 100 MW’,” he said.

Another official said the grid frequency due to the overdrawing has come down to 49.3 cycles - lowest in past two months.

“The grid frequency should be maintained at 50 cycles, and if the low frequency continues, it lead to the grid collapse,” he said adding that Bescom was monitoring the situation constantly.

Loadshedding

The implication has led to the loadshedding including the City, despite the demand coming down to 109 million units.

According to Bescom, the loadshedding has been extended to all consumers in the City, including domestic, commercial and industrial establishments. Girinath said that between 6 am to 10 am and 10 am to 2 pm, loadshedding is extended to residential consumers in four shifts each.

Bescom has also extended loadshedding to commercial consumers between 2 pm to 6 pm in two shifts, while between 7 pm to 9.30 pm, loashedding is extended to industrial consumers in four batches.

He said Bescom had taken steps to supply power for 22 hours in a day.     

SLDC resorts to load shedding

The Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company (Gescom) has resorted to unscheduled load shedding following directions from the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) owing to steep fall in power generation.

According to official sources, power generation in the State was down by 780 MW as on Friday.

The generation has decreased by 500 MW at Raichur and by 110 MW at Bellary thermal power stations.

Besides, there has been shortage of 170 MW from the central grid. Owing to steep fall, the SLDC has drastically reduced power allotment to escoms.

The Centre resorts to load shedding even without the knowledge the escoms. The Gescom has expressed its helplessness as control over load shedding was not in its hands.