Summer is yet to fully set in and parts of the city are reeling under power cuts.
Anticipating a shortage of about 300 MW during summer, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has devised “Summer Plan: 2013” for the period between March 1 and May 31 that involves several measures aimed at better management of power load.
This, even as the demand for power is increasing by 10 per cent every year in Bangalore.
Among the measures incorporated to cope with the load shortage, the power utility has decided to shift the evening peak load to beyond 9 p.m. when the demand for power normally reduces, instead of the present peak duration of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Simultaneously, Bescom has urged consumers to shift the use of energy-intensive gadgets such as water pumps, geysers, etc, after 10 p.m.
Disclosing this, Bescom Managing Director P. Manivannan told The Hindu that by doing this, nearly 30 MW of load would be reduced during the evening peak hours which is always a tightrope walk for the power utility as the demand for power shoots during this time.
However, the onus is entirely on the consumers, including the industry, to cooperate with the utility.
Shortage
The reasons stated in the summer plan for the expected power shortage are low generation of wind energy due to low wind speed, the shut down by the eight generating unit of the Raichur Thermal Power Station due to collapse of hoppers, and reduction in availability of Bescom’s quota of power due to unforeseen shutdowns in the Central Generating Stations. The second and third factors together have accounted for reduction in availability of 300 MW of power.
However, Mr. Manivannan maintained that the decision to stop power generation from four mini-hydroelectric projects in the Cauvery basin till May to divert water for drinking purposes would hardly have any impact on the power situation in the city.
