TTC units, MSEDCL think of ways to avoid power cuts

The Trans Thane Creek (TTC) industrial units together with the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) are working out a proposal to be presented to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) to get rid of the staggering holiday on Friday.

MSEDCL engineers, captive power plant owners in TTC and the industrial units in the belt met on Monday and discussed the issue. The TTC units have for long been demanding additional power supply to the area so that there is no staggering holiday. The MSEDCL has asked the TTC-based captive power owners to supply to their grid so that the power can be distributed to the consuming units. The daily power consumption of the area is 150 mw.

To the units' relief, it is learnt that the captive plant owners have shown their willingness to use their plants to overcome the crisis. But as far as the pricing is concerned, the decision will be taken by MERC.

"The captive power plants will feed our system so that the staggering holiday, which we use for repairing and maintenance task, can be avoided. A proposal to be presented to MERC is being worked out," said Anil D Khaparde, chief engineer, MSEDCL, Bhandup.

"We have tried to find out a way for making power available to the industries. As far as the pricing is concerned, it is MERC which will take the final decision," said Vinod Shah, director, Mukand Ltd, which is one of the units in TTC area owning a captive power plant of 22 mw capacity. It is believed that the Pune model will be followed while pricing the units of electricity.

According to the model, the financial liabilities will be passed over to the consuming units, which will have to pay the additional power costs.

"The pricing of the generation of units in the captive plants depends on the fuel the plant uses," Shah said, adding the fuels being used in the captive plants in the TTC area include fuel oil, naphtha and diesel. The potential producers are Standard Alkali, Mukand, Herdillia and Reliance.

Sources in the industries said as it is an urgent matter they expect MERC to take a decision soon. It is also learnt that the captive power plant owners have already approached the regulatory body regarding the pricing matter.

MSEDCL supplies power to the industrial units at Rs 4.5 a unit. And power generated from captive plants cost Rs 11 a unit, on an average. Sources in MSEDCL had earlier said the distribution company would be able to absorb a higher cost level of Rs 6-7 a unit, beyond which it will be difficult for it to manage.

However, as the TTC units are keen on getting additional power, their association will approach the members in case the additional cost is passed over to them.

Sources said without the willingness of the members it will be difficult to go ahead with the plan "" paying the additional charge.