Though the winds have set in and wind energy generation has picked up in the State, unscheduled power cuts continue to affect industrial operations here.
A month ago residents and industries were facing more than 10 hours of power cut a day. Though the daily load shedding has come down now, it is unscheduled and includes power cut at night.
J. James, president of Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Micro Enterprises, says that though it was announced that load shedding will be only for three hours a day, the units go without power for four to five hours a day now and there is no specific time. The association has appealed to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) to announce the schedule for the daily load shedding.
K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, says the problem of unscheduled power cut has arisen because the State is heavily dependent on wind power during the windy season. TANGEDCO officials say that on most of the days the load shedding in an area is according to a schedule, though it is not yet announced. There is no load shedding or it is for a shorter duration when the wind energy generation goes up.
The officials explained that when wind energy generation gained momentum last month, there was no load shedding for a few days here because the industries had power holiday as part of the restriction and control measures. With the removal of the power holiday and reduction of daily load shedding duration across the State, there is nearly four hours of power cut a day now. This is also expected to come down when the rains increase in the district. A clear picture of the demand and supply will be available then.
