OERC seeks public view on power regulations

With the demand for power in the state exceeding the supply by about 500 Mw to 600 Mw, the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) today invited public comments on the consultative staff paper on power regulation in the state.

According to the paper, the power supply situation in the state is now passing through a critical stage with the demand far exceeding the supply. The hydro reservoirs, considered to be the backbone of the power supply in Orissa are in depleted situation.

The thermal power stations are also not able to generate in full capacity due to various factors like non-availability of coal. On the other hand, the Independent Power Producers (IPPs), who were supposed to start operations by this time, are yet to come up due to various inherent problems like land acquisition.

Similarly, the captive generating plants (CGPs) in the state are unable to deliver their surplus power to meet the requirement. Though the tariff in Orissa is low compared to the other states, the power that can be arranged (in case available) from outside shall be at an exorbitant rate which the general consumers may not be able to afford.

In this scenario, there is need of demand management in the use of energy by all categories of consumers including industrial consumers of the state, the commission pointed out.

Since the commission is mandated under Section 23 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to issue order for regulating supply, distribution, consumption or use thereof so as to maintain, efficient supply, secure, equitable distribution of electricity and promote competition, there is a requirement for issue of a standard load shedding protocol to be implemented in the state.

Accordingly, the consultative staff paper on power regulation is prepared and placed in the website of OERC. The general public have been requested to submit their views to the commission by 25 October 2009. After the commission receives the opinion, power shedding will be taken up in the state. Besides, the commission will prepare a working plan for the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC), the Orissa Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (OPTCL) and the distribution companies to avoid any un-expected inconvenience to the consumers.