OERC asks utilities to prepare contingency plan

The Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) toady asked the power distribution companies to prepare contingency plan for regulating the power supply in view of the scarcity of power in the state. This plan will be finalised by the distribution companies within 15 days and will be submitted to the OERC. A full scale meeting will be held after the submission of the contingency plan, sources said.

During a preliminary meeting on tackling power situation in the state called by OERC, the state owned Gridco stated that it is losing about Rs 100 per month due to the Re.0.61 difference per unit of power purchased and supplied. As a result, the cumulative loss has reached Rs 1200 crore, it stated. On the other hand, the state owned, Orissa Hydro Power Corporation, in its submission before the commission, pointed out that the targeted generation couldn’t be achieved due to lower water level in reservoirs across the state. In this situation there is no alternative but to regulate the power supply.

The state government will also create awareness among the public regarding the prevailing situation through media. Sources said, the water level in all reservoirs as of today was lower compared to the last year. While the water level at Hirakud was 623.69 ft compared to 629.21 ft on the corresponding day of the last year, it was 120.14 metre against 123.8 metre at Rengali.