Karnataka likely to be spared of power cuts this summer

There is adequate storage in reservoirs now

Adequate storage in reservoirs is expected to help the State tide over the demand for power in summer. According to government sources, there may not be much of a need to resort to power cuts.

The average daily power consumption in Karnataka is 188 million units (mu) now. Of this, 92 mu is generated by Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL), 42.03 mu is obtained from the Central generating stations, and 47.9 mu is from independent power producers.

The KPCL could generate only around 77 mu around the same time last year.

The contribution from hydro-electric projects is 40.27 mu now, while it was 33.9 mu last year . The water-level in Linganamakki, Supa and Varahi reservoirs, the source of water for Sharavathi, Kali and Varahi hydro-electric projects respectively, had reached maximum capacity in August owing to heavy rain in the catchment areas.

On Monday, the water storage in Linganamakki reservoir was 1,789 ft against the maximum capacity of 1,819 ft. The storage in the reservoir on the same day last year was 1,787 ft. The storage level in the Supa reservoir constructed across the Kali was 551 metres on Monday, 11 metres more than that of last year.

The sources said 25 million units a day was being produced at Sharavathi and around 13 million units a day at Kali. Even the daily power generation at Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) and Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS) was also more compared with last year— around 31 million units at RTPS and 20 million units at BTPS.

Of the eight units in RTPS, only six were functioning owing to shortage of coal. The agitation in Andhra Pradesh over the Telangana issue is said to be a reason for this.

Meanwhile, the government has reduced the purchase of electricity from private sources through short and medium term power purchase agreements to 23 mu. It was 29 mu last year during this period.

However, with the daily average power consumption in the State likely to exceed 200 mu in summer, power purchased through short and medium term agreements may go up.