Government mulls central transmission entity

Goyal says that the 23,273.5 MW capacity of coal and lignite based thermal power generating units were un-utilised due to its non-schedule

Government is looking at creating a separate entity to function as a dedicated central transmission utility with operational and financial authority, Parliament was informed on Monday.

"Government has contemplated the creation of a separate entity as a dedicated company having operational and financial autonomy which shall discharge the statutory functions of Central Transmission Utility (CTU) along with other functions which inter-alia includes Power System Planning," Power Minister Piyush Goyal stated in a written reply to Rajya Sabha on Monday.

According to statement, the proposal for creation of such an entity is presently at a preliminary stage.

At present, Power Grid Corp discharges the CTU functions. Its arm Power System Operation Corp manages the electricity grid in the country.

PSOC ensures integrated operation of regional and national power systems to facilitate transfer of electricity within and across regions and trans-national exchange of power.

In another reply to the House, Goyal said that during the April-October period of the current fiscal, 2.67% of coal and lignite based thermal units could not generate electricity at all.

During 12th Plan (2012-17) till September 2016, he said, a total of 3,000 MW of inefficient thermal generating capacity has been retired. This will result in better utilisation of more efficient plants.

In another reply, Goyal stated that as reported by the states, there were 18,452 un-electrified census villages in the country, as on April 1, 2015.

Out of these, 10,628 villages have been electrified as on October, 31, 2016 and the remaining 7,824 un-electrified villages are targeted to be electrified by May, 2018.

As per Census 2011, out of 1,678 lakh rural households in the country, 750 lakh were un-electrified.

However, 249.89 lakh BPL households have been released connections under Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), including Rural Electrification component, as on October, 31, 2016, he added.

Goyal further said that the 23,273.5 MW capacity of coal and lignite based thermal power generating units were un-utilised due to its non-schedule from beneficiaries (Reserve shut down) as on November 14, 2016.

The un-utilised capacity of gas and other liquid/multi fuel power stations cannot be quantified as it depends on availability of gas, he added.

On hydro power, he said as many as 12 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of hydro power projects, with an aggregate installed capacity of 9,979, MW are under examination in Central Electricity Authority (CEA).