Hyderabad: The sudden 12-hour power cut in parts of AP is the result of a massive under estimation of the power supply situation in the state. Authorities themselves can give no reason for the blackout as APGenco and APTransco figures show decent power generation.
Two to six-hour cuts have been imposed in parts of the state and currently only Hyderabad, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Warangal don’t have these cuts. The NPDCL area is seeing cuts of four hours in towns and cities, six hours in mandal headquarters, eight hours in sub-station headquarters and 12 hours in villages and rural areas.
Highly-placed sources say the official figures of power generation and the actual figures are poles apart. In an attempt to show that the power cuts are not significant in the state, the official figures show a power deficit of just 8 MU per day despite the massive load relief schedules.
The power demand in the state is 263 MU. A deficit of 8 MU would thus be negligible. But the reality is that there are up to 12 hours of power cuts in rural areas and even parts of the twin cities are experiencing 45 minutes to one-hour power cuts every day.
Many parts of the city are having power cuts for no reason except gross mismanagement and suppressing the real demand figures, say those in the know. And nowhere in the state is the promise of seven hours power supply for the agricultural sector being realised.
Barely a month ago, the CM and energy department officials had publicly stated that the power situation would be much better this year, helped by good hydel inflows.
In what can only be called a case of gross mismanagement, long-term purchase of power, though it is allowed by APERC, hasn’t been tied up to the full extent. Though 2,000 MW in long term purchase and another 2,000 MW in medium term purchases is allowed, the state is currently getting 665 MW from private plants within the state under long-term purchase, 1,060 MW in the southern region under long and medium-term arrangement, and 1,953 MW under short-term purchase for 2013-2014 till May (the tie up was done last year). The short-term purchase from February 15 to May is yet to be made. The situation is such that now the officially suppressed demand is being shown to cover up the actual situation.
Internal documents of the discoms show the demand projection for peak summer to be around 320 to 330 MU per day, a hike of 20 to 30 MU per day over last year. The discoms had made these projections three months ago, but despite the situation being so grave, no short-term purchase has been made yet.
The additional 400 MW short-term bidding process is underway and will be finalised by January 31. The problem that this lack of long term planning poses is that less power will be available for which many states will be contending. This reduces the possibility of any one state getting the full amount of power it needs.
Meanwhile, latest figures show the power demand in the state to be 263 MU, and 255 MU was supplied, leaving a deficit of 8 MU. “To overcome the shortfall, a bid for 12.75 mu was put in at the power exchange for Friday but we received only 7 mu,” said an official.
Next: Summers to be worse this year
Summers to be worse this year
Hyderabad: While official suppression of the actual demand is the reason behind the state’s current power crisis, insiders say the situation will further worsen in the next few months.
Though the synchronisation of the southern grid with the northern grid was being considered as a reason for cheer, the actual current demand being estimated at 280 MU (against the shown 263 MU) may leave little scope for last minute measures, said sources.
“Discoms have been wary of making any extra tie ups given the current financial situation of the power utilities. Moreover, the grid synchronisation would mean additional costs even if importing more power is possible,” said an official.
Going by the current trends, peak summer might be worse than last year, despite all the claims and assurances. The worst victims will be agricultural and rural consumers as they are being supplied power in two spells, at night.
Moreover, supplying power to the agricultural sector at night is also leading to wastage as farmers are forced to leave their pumpsets on to draw water as and when power is supplied.
