Significant inflows into Jurala and Srisailam reservoirs due to heavy rains in the catchment areas in September-October have saved the Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TS-Genco) from under-utilising its hydro-electric power installations and instead generate over 1,000 million units (MU) of energy during the two months.
Officials of TS-Genco stated that it’s the record hydel generation achieved for the two months since formation of Telangana State. “Although hydel generation of TS-Genco was highest in 2014-15 at 3,128.4 million units, the contribution of September and October months was not in the measure of this year (2017-18),” the officials said adding that it was not even half of the present year during 2016-17 as the generation achieved was only 497.18 MU during the two months.
Unlike in the previous years, the TS-Genco has not preferred to back down the generation in thermal units in its fold or from the contracted suppliers owing to reduced demand from the agriculture sector and instead continued generation in both and resorted to spot sale of energy in the national power exchange and make some revenue. “Hydel generation is the most cheapest energy available and making use of it, when possible, is the priority of any power utility,” the officials said.
Further, hydel generation has become more valuable to Telangana since the power utilities of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have stopped sharing power generation as per the provisions of AP Reorganisation Act for the last few months, the officials said. Hydel generation this year has been over 1,080 MU so far, from April 1 to November 4, with less that 2% contribution from installations in the Godavari basin. It is expected to improve to some extent with possible generation at Srisailam Left Bank power house with let out of water to Nagarjunasagar. The hydel generation of TS-Genco was only 284.76 MU during 2015-16 and 1,305.8 MU during 2016-17. However, the hydel generation from power houses at reservoirs in the Godavari basin was considerable at over 100 MU last year, while it’s only 19 MU so far.
