Power crunch dents State coffers

DEMAND OUTSTRIPS SUPPLY

Generation at hydel power stations takes a severe beating due to depleting water levels in Krishna and Godavari reservoirs

• Power cost goes up from `1,000 crore to `1,500 crore
• Demand soars to an all-time high of 150 million units a day

Hyderabad: Power shortage in Telangana has hit the state finances hard. With no power generation from hydel power stations, the Telangana government is struggling hard to meet the increasing demand for power.

While the demand has reached an all-time high in last six months, the cost of power purchase had gone up by Rs 500 crore. The government which was spending Rs 1,000 crore six months back is now coughing up Rs 1500 crore to buy power from various sources.

According to official sources, the demand for power had touched an all-time high - 150 million units a day last week. This is said to be all-time high in the last six months. The officials of the TSTRANSCO attributed this to continuous heat wave conditions due to weak monsoon and the huge consumption of power in the ongoing Kharif season as farmers heavily depend on borewells for agriculture.

While the thermal projects could generate only 42 MU, the hydel stations registered ‘zero’ power generation this monsoon. The total installed capacity of the hydel units in Telangana is 2, 081 MW. Power generation in hydel units came to a halt due to depletion of water levels in the main reservoirs on Krishna and Godavari rivers.

Usually, the hydel units generate 1,000 MW ( 50 per cent of the total installed capacity) during peak monsoon season and help to meet the power demand in Kharif season every year. The officials said, out of the total requirement of 150 MU of power , Genco projects were supplying only 40 MU.

The State was getting 14 MU as its share from AP projects and another 14 MU from Non Conventional Energy (NCE) sources. Over 50 per cent of power ie 70 MU was being purchased from Central Generating Stations (CGS) and power exchanges at high prices.

The cost of the each unit bought from the TSGENCO owned hydel and thermal units is around Rs 1. 50 to Rs 2 per unit whereas the power purchased from private companies and CGS would be around Rs 4 to Rs 5.75 per unit. “ Due to increase in power demand, the financial burden on purchasing power has been increased to Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,500 crore in the last one year”, officials said.

Meanwhile, taking a serious note of power crisis that looms large over the state, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, before leaving for China on a 10-day official tour, instructed the Transco officials to review power demand and supply situation every morning and evening and ensure round-the- clock power supply to domestic and commercial sectors during the crucial period.