The advancement of the southwest monsoon, which has resulted in rain in several parts of the State, and good flow of wind energy into the State grid have helped electricity supply companies (Escoms) tide over the shortage of 1,200 MW of power that arose after Udupi Power Corporation Ltd. (UPCL) stopped generation.
UPCL stopped generation at its two units, each with a capacity of 600 MW, on June 12, while maintaining that it is finding it difficult to pay for the coal being imported. It has accused Escoms of defaulting on payment of about Rs. 2,000 crore towards the power supplied by it — an issue which Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar has been disagreeing with.
Even as this row continues, the abrupt shutdown of generation has not deeply impacted power supply as several factors, including the fact that the wind mills are working in full speed, have come to the rescue of Escoms. “We are getting 1,228 MW of wind energy now and this is coming during the peak hours when the demand for power is more,” a senior official in the power sector said.
In addition to this, measures have been initiated to increase generation at both the thermal generating stations of the State-held Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. — Raichur Thermal Power Station and Bellary Thermal Power Station, the official said. Hydel generation would also be increased as and when there would be a need to make up for any shortage during the peak hour, he said. There was potential to increase hydel generation as the Sharavati station had been generating only 239 MW against its potential of 1,035 MW and the Varahi station was generating only 46 MW against the full capacity of 450 MW, he said, and added that there was enough storage in the hydel reservoirs to increase the generation.
Above all, rain in different parts of the State, especially in the parched districts which used to account for high power consumption due to a large number of irrigation pump-sets, has helped in reducing the demand for power.
