Unscheduled power cuts are set to continue in the city as the power shortage continues with a 600 to 700 MW deficit being faced by Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom).
Parts of south and east Bengaluru had to put up with intermittent power supply on Friday.
Decreased inflow of water into hydropower plants combined with forced outages at two major thermal power plants at Ballari and Udupi have led to a massive shortage in the State. The situation was alleviated a little on Thursday evening as the 600 MW) unit at Udupi Thermal Power Station began operations and 500 MW unit of Ballari Thermal Power Station resumed generation on Friday morning, said officials.
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Bescom is now trying to procure additional power to meet the shortfall. “We have bid on 500 MW of power and are also thinking of advancing our power procurement plans in order to meet the shortfall,” said Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Pandey.
However, till the two non-functional units of UPCL and BTPS start generation again, the outlook seems bleak. Senior officials confirmed that ramping up of hydropower generation to meet the shortfall was not an option currently as the total availability of power from the three major reservoirs of Linganamakki, Supa and Mani is 3,983 million units (MU), down by 3,018 MU compared to the same period last year.
“We have to restrict hydropower generation. Overall, the State is looking at 1,100 MW shortage. While we have issued a letter of intent for 700 MW, we are also trying to delay operational maintenance of the remaining power plants for a few months,” said Additional Chief Secretary P. Ravikumar.
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