Maha power deficit surges to 5,500 Mw

Maharashtra is reeling under an acute power crisis. The demand has risen to a record 16,500 Mw, against the availability of 9,000 Mw, leading to a daily power deficit of 5,500 Mw.

The state-run Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MahaVitaran) is forced to increase daily load-shedding in urban areas from 3 to 6 hours at present to 4.5 to 7.5 hours and in rural areas to nearly 13 to 15 hours. During the same period last year, the demand for power in the state stood at 14,500 Mw, against availability of only 11,000 Mw.

The rise in mismatch is due to burgeoning temperature and also because of MahaGenco’s inability to run a 2,300-Mw Chandrapur power plant in the Vidarbha region due to lack of water in the adjoining Yerai dam. Besides residential consumers, small-scale industrial units, shops and business establishments, especially from various towns and rural areas, are expected to be badly hit. In case of agriculture, the power supply has been reduced to 8 hours from 10 hours earlier.

Power supply to large and heavy industries and those that need continuous power would be closed for 16 hours during a week. MahaVitaran, which has a consumer base of 17 million, has not yet considered closing of these units twice a week. Moreover, unlike Karnataka, the Maharashtra government has not yet invoked Section 11 of the Electricity Act, which asks power generators from the state to generate power to its fullest capacity and sell it within the state. This means, the state government has not yet barred open access in transmission.

MahaVitaran sources told Business Standard: “This is a unique situation in the last 15 years that a power plant has to be closed down for want of water. This is a loss of 2,300 Mw. The sate is currently getting about 3,300 Mw from Mahagenco plants, 2,600 Mw from the central sector, 1,600 Mw from the Dabhol power project, 1,000 Mw from Koyana hydro project and 500 Mw from Nuclear Power Corporation and various private projects. The situation would not have been so bad if the Chandrapur plant was operational.”

Sources said MahaVitaran had tied up about 300 Mw at Rs 5.56 per unit. There were limitations to procure additional power when the rates had risen to Rs 9-10 per unit.

In case of Mumbai, the demand during summer is recorded at 2,800 Mw. Tata Power, which is focusing on increasing its presence among retail consumers, provides 2,027 Mw and nearly 500 Mw comes from Reliance Infrastructure.