AP-Genco Managing Director and AP-Transco CMD K. Vijayanand said on Friday that the State was facing a power crunch this month due to disruption in the supply of 1100 MW from the Central generating stations (400 MW), KSK Mahanadi project (400 MW), and lower Sileru hydro project (300 MW) because of the steep rise in demand. The daily shortage was 24 million units as the consumption, which was pegged by the A.P. Electricity Regulatory Commission at 162 million units per day, went up by 13 million units, he observed.
Addressing a review meeting on the power scenario at Vidyut Soudha here, Mr. Vijayanand said a drastic fall in the reservoir levels, which crippled the hydro-power generation to the extent of 1750 MW, and issues with coal linkages were the main reasons for the crisis. Only 6 to 7 million units could be purchased from the power exchanges.
A total of 34 million units of solar and wind energy was available on May 1, and it came down to 14 million units as on May 15.
Insufficient coal stock
Mr. Vijayanand said Dr. Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Station, the Damodaram Sanjeevaiah Thermal Power Station, and the Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station were not having adequate buffer stock of coal.
In spite of a mix of factors that shot the power availability down, the public utilities took various measures to prevent major disturbances.
He said the renewable energy sector was going through a turbulent period.
