Peak power deficit in Oct at 3%: CEA

Less agricultural load and more hydel generation prime reasons for reduced peak power deficit

Peak power deficit in the country shrunk to 3% in October, as against 9.4% in the same month last year, helped by higher hydel generation due to heavy rains and lower industrial growth.

"Less agricultural load and more hydel generation due to heavy monsoon are the prime reasons for reduced peak power deficit. Also the industrial sector did not grow as expected leading to reduction in demand," a CEA official told PTI.

Peak power deficit or shortage in electricity supply when the demand is maximum for October stood at 3,845 MW of 3%, as per the Central Electricity Authority data.

The total peak power demand in October 2013 was 1,30,022 MW of which 1,26,177 MW was met.

In October last year, the total peak power requirement stood at 1,34,045 MW of which 1,21,473 MW was met leading to a shortage of 12,572 MW or 9.4%, the data added.

Western region emerged as the best performer in October this year, registering just 0.1% deficit.

Total power demand of the western states including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra stood at 37,411 MW, and 37,371 was met, the data said.

The peak power deficit of the western states was 1.5% in October 2012.

The total electricity requirement of the Northern region comprising Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan was 41,154 MW, and supply 38,385 MW. It recorded a peak power deficit of 6.7% or 2,769 MW.

This number stood at 4,338 MW or 10.6% in October 2012, the data said.

The peak electricity shortage in the Northeastern states of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland grew to 4.3% in October this year, as against 3.3% last year.

The total power demand of these 'seven sisters' states, in October 2013, was 2,140 MW of which 2,048 MW was met, the data showed.

Southern region showed the most improvement by posting a deficit of 2.2% in October 2013 as compared to a whopping 18.7%, last year.

"This improvement is primarily because of new capacity addition in the region," the official added.

The total power demand of the southern states, in October 2013, was 33,702 MW of which 32,968 MW was made available.

Peak power deficit of the eastern region states -- Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Odisha and Andaman and Nicobar Islands -- in October, this year was 210 MW or 1.3%.

Power supplied to these states was 15,405 MW as against the demand of 15,615 MW.