Chandigarh July 30:
No good news this for the ruling Shiromani Akail Dal-BJP combine but the fact remains that Punjab is in for an acute shortage of power during the current financial year if the Load Generation Balance Report, recently released by the Central Electricity Authority, is any indication.
The net energy requirement of Punjab during 2008-09 is likely to be 43,796 million units against the anticipated availability of only 39,093 million units. Hence, Punjab is likely to suffer a shortage of 10.7%, i.e. 4,703 million units, in the current financial year.
The power shortage in the State would be 22.4 per cent in January, 2009, 16.66 per cent in October and 13.46 per cent in August this year. The shortage estimated for the current month is 11%. Taking the entire northern region in totality, there would be a shortfall of 6.3% during the current fiscal. The power availability would be 2,20,895 million units against the demand of 2,35,718 million units.
The CEA report works out power shortage as per present allocations and generation by the State thermal and hydro projects. Firm allocation to Punjab is to the tune of 1,748 MW whereas the total allocation is 1,935 MW. This does not include any short-term purchase made by Punjab to overcome any emergency.
Last year, the report had predicted a shortfall of 15.2 per cent but the PSEB purchased 2,745 million units of power through bilateral contracts and from traders. This year also, the power purchase allowed by the PSERC has already been exhausted in the first four months of the current financial year.
Meanwhile, the peak demand in Punjab during 2008-2009 is estimated at 9,110 MW with expected peak availability of 6,100 MW. Punjab is, therefore, likely to suffer peak deficit of 33 per cent i.e. 3,010 MW during the year. Last year, Punjab received 5,257.8 million units as assistance from different States through banking arrangements or through purchases. According to the report, the Ropar thermal units would be closed for 135 days for annual maintenance.
No good news this for the ruling Shiromani Akail Dal-BJP combine but the fact remains that Punjab is in for an acute shortage of power during the current financial year if the Load Generation Balance Report, recently released by the Central Electricity Authority, is any indication.
The net energy requirement of Punjab during 2008-09 is likely to be 43,796 million units against the anticipated availability of only 39,093 million units. Hence, Punjab is likely to suffer a shortage of 10.7%, i.e. 4,703 million units, in the current financial year.
The power shortage in the State would be 22.4 per cent in January, 2009, 16.66 per cent in October and 13.46 per cent in August this year. The shortage estimated for the current month is 11%. Taking the entire northern region in totality, there would be a shortfall of 6.3% during the current fiscal. The power availability would be 2,20,895 million units against the demand of 2,35,718 million units.
The CEA report works out power shortage as per present allocations and generation by the State thermal and hydro projects. Firm allocation to Punjab is to the tune of 1,748 MW whereas the total allocation is 1,935 MW. This does not include any short-term purchase made by Punjab to overcome any emergency.
Last year, the report had predicted a shortfall of 15.2 per cent but the PSEB purchased 2,745 million units of power through bilateral contracts and from traders. This year also, the power purchase allowed by the PSERC has already been exhausted in the first four months of the current financial year.
Meanwhile, the peak demand in Punjab during 2008-2009 is estimated at 9,110 MW with expected peak availability of 6,100 MW. Punjab is, therefore, likely to suffer peak deficit of 33 per cent i.e. 3,010 MW during the year. Last year, Punjab received 5,257.8 million units as assistance from different States through banking arrangements or through purchases. According to the report, the Ropar thermal units would be closed for 135 days for annual maintenance.
