'Maharashtra to be energy surplus from this year'

This is due to Mahavitran's 5,000 MW power drawal tie up & capacity addition by MahaGenco

Maharashtra, which is facing a daily power shortfall of 700 Mw, is likely to have 600 million units of surplus power for trading in 2013-14. This could rise to 17,400 million units in 2014-15 and 23,900 million units in 2015-16.

Reason? The state-run Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MahaVitaran) will tie up about 5,000 Mw of power during short-, medium-, and long-term purchases. In addition, Maharashtra State Power Generation Company is planning capacity addition.

In its multi-year tariff business plan for FY14-16 submitted before the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission, MahaVitaran said the energy available at the distribution periphery during FY14 would be 1,13,769 mega units (MUs), 1,43,000 MUs in FY15 and 1,60,264 MUs in FY16. MahaVitaran has projected total sales of 91,851 MUs in FY14, 99495 MUs in FY15 and 1,07,875 MUs in FY16.

MahaVitaran has also proposed an annual tariff rise of 7-8 per cent for the next three years, considering inflation and rise in fuel cost. MERC had allowed MahaVitaran a 16 per cent hike in tariff for FY12 and FY13.

Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who is also the state’s energy minister, told Business Standard: “Notwithstanding the closure of some units of MahaGenco for want for water and non functioning of Dabhol power project at its full capacity of 1,967 Mw due to shortage of gas, Maharashtra’s present power deficit is 700 Mw. This is purely in non-paying regions where distribution losses and power dues are quite high. However, the state will be energy-surplus from the current fiscal.”

MahaVitaran is purchasing power from the market at the per unit tariff ranging between Rs  2.70 and Rs  3.80, the minister added. MahaVitaran’s sources of power include thermal, hydro power and non conventional sources such as solar, wind and bagasse.

Moreover, MahaVitaran has estimated power purchase of 1,15,437 MUs worth Rs  42,685 crore at the per unit tariff of Rs  3.70 in FY14, 1,44,779 MUs worth Rs  57,058 crore at Rs  3.94 per unit in FY15 and 1,62,008 MUs worth Rs  67,085 crore at Rs  4.14 per unit in FY16.

The average cost of supply is estimated at Rs  6.29 per unit in FY14, Rs  6.74 per unit in FY15 and Rs  7.03 per unit in FY16.