Residents of the city, despite facing a scorching summer this year, were able to keep ‘cool’ because of uninterrupted power supply. The State, which has been facing severe power shortage for more than five years, has finally managed to come out of the power crunch with the commissioning of several thermal plants and effective power management.
Even on the hottest day of the year, May 25, when the city recorded 42.4 degree Celsius and power consumption was almost 280 million units (the all-time high was 293.97 MU recorded on June 6, 2014), Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) was able to ensure nil load shedding.
Highest temperature in the city this year: 42.4 degree Celsius on May 25, 2015
Total power consumption in the State May 25: 269.15 million units MU, May 26: 279.30 MU
Tangedco’s thermal units have been producing an average of 3,500 mega watt (MW) against a total capacity of 5,620 MW
AThere has been nil load shedding in the State this year
A senior official of Tangedco said the reason for the power utility being able to maintain standard power supply was the removal of scheduled power cuts. He said: “The understanding was that whenever power cuts were introduced, there was greater demand for electricity once the power supply was restored. So by maintaining uninterrupted power supply, we have been able to offset the erratic demand for power.” Moreover, the power utility has been able to produce on a daily average 12,500 mega watt (MW) to 13,500 MW of electricity.
V. Rajagopal, a welfare activist in Anna Nagar West Extension, said this year was a refreshing change from the past summers, when power cuts were long and lasted hours. Residents, who were dreading facing sleepless nights this summer also, were happy to note that this summer was relatively bearable because of fewer power cuts, particularly during night time.
A senior official of Tangedco pointed to the extensive infrastructure improvement works including commissioning of new substations and installation of distribution transformers and power breakers in the city, which consumed more than 20 per cent of the electricity in the State.
With winds setting in and bound to last till August, the power managers are confident of seeing off the rest of the summer without any power cuts.