The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has disagreed with the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO)'s proposal to lift the restriction and control (R and C) measures by June-end.
In its order passed on Thursday, the Commission directed the Corporation to relax the R and C measures in a graded manner by linking it to capacity addition.
In its order passed on Thursday, the TNERC, taking into consideration the demand-supply gap and the financial situation of the Corporation and the delay in commissioning of additional capacities, said: “As some generating units are getting commissioned, albeit with certain delays, the Commission is not inclined to lift the entire R and C measures by June-end 2012, as proposed by TANGEDCO in their petition.”
Considering the commencement of wind season from May, banking of wind energy and allowing Open Access Regulations to industrial consumers, the Commission was of the view that the shortage of power was expected to recede only after October/November this year.
The Commission pointed out that an order for lifting R and C totally by end of June 2012 would only create chaos in the distribution of electricity in the State. In a situation where the shortage was between 2,000 megawatt (MW) and 4,000 MW, it spelled out a road map for the scheduled and complete lifting of the R and C measures, based on the proposed capacity addition of 1,600 MW.
As per the R and C measures, 40 per cent reduction in demand during normal hours and 90 per cent reduction in demand during peak hours were being implemented on high tension industrial units. Also, scheduled load shedding was being implemented throughout the State for all consumers for a period of two hours in the city and four hours in all other parts of the State. For every 400 MW capacity addition, the high tension consumers would get a relief of 10 per cent during normal and evening peak hours.
The Commission also wanted the Corporation to revisit the load-shedding pattern in the entire State and make it more equitable.
