When Jayalalithaa-headed AIADMK government assumed charge in May 2011, the biggest challenge faced by the government was the power situation, which was in a dismal state due to the huge demand-supply mismatch.
Owing to the proactive steps taken by Chief Minister J. Jayallaithaa in augmentation of power supply, the load shedding on domestic consumers was withdrawn from June 1, 2014, while power restriction on high tension industries and commercial consumers were scaled down. Signifying an important milestone that would help overall development of the state.
The power consumption demand was then 235 million units and the demand-supply gap was 33 per cent in May 2011. The maximum peak demand recorded then was 10,702 MW.
This power shortage situation inherited by the AIADMK government has been systematically overcome by expediting the commissioning of thermal power projects such as the Mettur Thermal Power Station Stage-III, North Chennai Thermal Power Station Stage-II and all three units of TNEB–NTPC Joint Venture Thermal Power Station at Vallur and procurement of power through medium and long-term purchase agreements.
This has resulted in the augmentation of power supply by 4,991 MW. At present, the demand–supply gap has almost been bridged, even though the power consumption demand has increased substantially to 293 million units.
