Early inflows helpTS-Genco generate 116 mu hydel energy

Power utilities meet peak demands without additional purchases

Heavy inflows into Jurala and Srisailam reservoirs during July have helped Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TS-Genco) to generate over 116 million units (mu) of energy, highest compared to the hydel generation in recent years.

According to officials in the power utility, they were able to generate power at the hydel generations stations at Jurala project, Lower Jurala, Srisailam Left Bank and Nagarjunasagar in July. “We have commenced power generation at Jurala quite early this year as early inflows helped start it from July 18 evening itself. Last year, we could start the power units only on August 31”, a Genco official said.

The power utility commenced generation at Lower Jurala power house two days later and during the fourth week of July at Srisailam. However, the generation at Srisailam was taken up only during the peak load hours to meeting the increasing demand from agriculture sector due to dry spell.

“The hydel generation in the month of July in the recent years has never been in the range of this year (over 116 mu) as it was only for the name sake in 2017 (1.7 mu). In 2016 its was 61.63 mu mainly due to generation at Srisailam and Nagarajunasagar with the water available in the reservoirs to meet the peak demand. It was also not much in 2015 and 2014,” the power utility official explained.

This year, out of 116 mu energy generated in July over 43 mu was done at Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar and the remaining energy at Jurala and Lower Jurala power houses.

In the first eight days of August, 40 mu energy has been generated mostly at Srisailam Left Bank power house while releasing water to Nagarjunasagar as mandated by the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) for meeting the drinking water and irrigation needs of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

“The low-cost power has helped the Telangana power utilities to meet peak demand without going for additional energy purchases over and above contracted supply including short term supplies. With improved inflows into Jurala and Srisailam since Wednesday night, hydel generation is likely to continue further this month”, the Genco official stated.