Orissa cuts power supply to industries by 50%

Facing acute shortage of power, the Orissa government has directed the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) to effect 50 percent load restriction on industrial users.

The state energy department has come out with the required notification in this regard which will remain effective for two weeks or till the situation improves.

The notification enforces curbs on power supply to high tension (HT) and extra high tension (EHT) consumers, mostly comprising of industrial units.

The instruction to the SLDC has been issued under section 37 of the Central Electricity Act, 2003. It is expected to bring in equity between the rural and the urban consumers, sources said.

Though the state government had approached the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) for effecting load restriction of 15 percent for such consumers earlier, the Commission had disapproved the proposal.

With virtually no rainfall in last 9 months, the hydro power generation has come down drastically. The problem is further precipitated by failures of some thermal units in the Orissa Power Generation Corporation’s Ib Valley station, NTPC’s Kaniha plant and Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS) has added to the woos of the state government leading to acute shortage of power.

While the deficit is 300 to 400 mw during non-peak hours, it increases to 600 mw to 700 mw during the peak hours. Moreover, the government is unable to purchase power from outside the state also.

It may be noted, the state government has already issued orders under section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to all the captive generating plants (CGPs) for maximising power generation and inject power to the state grid.

Besides, it has also canceled the open access allowed to Naba Bharat Ventures Ltd. (NBVL) located at Meramundali in Dhenkanal district for wheeling 40 Mw power. Similarly Jindal Stainless Ltd is supplying power from its captive power plant (CPP) located at Kalinganagar. But these measures have proved inadequate.