No power cuts this year, additional supply arranged

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 05

Haryana may not be self sufficient in power generation, but as per the latest Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report 2016-17, the state has been able to bridge the demand and supply gap by purchasing power.

The report has projected power supply position to remain comfortable during the current financial year mainly due to power purchase agreements with private power generator companies. As per the Central Electricity Authority estimates, the total annual power requirement is likely to be 49,800 million units (MU), while the state authorities have arranged 51,069 MUs, thus putting the state in power surplus category with 2.5% additional power.

Even the expected peak requirement of 8,950 MW will be met, as the state has arranged 9,263 MW.

The annual report on anticipated power supply is prepared by the Central Electricity Authority experts on the basis of the proposed maintenance schedule of the units during the year and the availability of power from all sources, including own generation and through power purchase agreements.

“We have enough power to meet the demand. It would be purchased at a cheaper rate, as generating power on our own is costlier,” Arun Kumar Verma, Managing Director of Dakhshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited, said while speaking to told The Tribune.

As per the report, there will be 2.3 percent power shortage during peak hours in September and October.

The months of August and September will also witness maximum peak demand of 8,950 MW for which 9,263 and 8,744 MWs have been arranged, respectively.

The maximum power demand of 5,250 MUs will be in the months of July and August followed by 5,150 MUs in September for which 5,464, 5,236 and 5,130 MUs, respectively, have been arranged.

Power experts apprehend shortage though surplus power has been estimated at 2.5 per cent. They anticipate 15 per cent rise in power demand during the paddy season, which could compel the authorities to impose power cuts.

The state Power Department has been criticised by experts for failing to increase its own power generating capacity like other states. According to a recent report, despite an installed electricity generation capacity of 5,006 Mega Watts, the state generated 1,875 Mega Watts only.