Power deficit up in May

Peak power deficit for the month went upto 12.9 per cent as against 12.3 per cent in the corresponding month last year. Average deficit for the month was up to 8.7 per cent compared to 8.0 per cent in April 2007.

"The yearly increasing power deficit is mainly because of increasing demand in power," said a senior official from the central electricity regulator (CERC).

Total peak power demand for the month was recorded at 1,05,049 mw which was 3960 mw higher than the power demand of 1,01,084 mw in the corresponding month last year. 

Total capacity addition achieved in May (184.8 mw) has also fallen short of the targetted 335 mw, according to the monthly capacity addition report released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

The peak power deficit for the month has however when compared to last month (16.3 percent) on account of decreased demand of about 2,000 mw of power due to pleasant weather in May compared to April.

"Power deficit in months like May and September always reduces as compared to other months. This is because of pleasant weather and also because these are not sowing seasons, so a lot of power going to agriculture sector is saved." said a senior official from CEA.

The worsening power deficit has come at a time when the government has set a capacity addition target of 78,577 mw in the eleventh plan period (2007-2012), out of which 11,061 mw is to be added in the current year.

A total of 434 mw of this 11,061 mw of power however had already been commissioned by the end of May 2008.

Officials said that the deficit situation is likely to worsen in June, which along with December, is the most challenging month for the power planners.