In most parts of India, be it rural or urban, the rise in temperatures is directly proportional the chances of power outage. But this summer promises to be different, and in no small part because of the elections around the corner. State governments, in an obvious bid to placate voters, are spending huge amounts on expensive power to meet their electricity needs.
In power-starved Maharashtra, despite the demand crossing 15,000 MW and deficit in the 4000-4,500 MW range, officials from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) claim there will be no unplanned power outages this season.
Also, in places like Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pune, the MSEDCL hopes to keep the ‘zero load shedding’ model functional. Zero load shedding was by-and-large observed in these areas till February-end. The ongoing board exams and the High Court directive to the government to ensure that there are no power cuts, have also put pressure on the government.
Sources from the industry say the electricity board of Rajasthan procured 600 MW at as high as Rs12.50 per unit only to meet its power needs of its consumers, who were earlier facing long power cuts. Maharashtra is also procuring available power from the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) at Rs8 to Rs10 per unit.
In the meanwhile, utilities across the country are awaiting a decision from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) regarding reduction in the unscheduled interchange (UI) charges from the present level of Rs10 per unit to Rs7.35. “This will benefit the utilities procuring power from the IEX since the suppliers were refusing to trade their power at lower rates as they could get a better bargain by selling it at the UI rate. But if this charge is reduced, the rate per unit of tradable power will also go down,” said an industry expert.
Consumers from rural areas however will continue to face 10.30 hours to 12 hours of cuts whereas those from other areas will face 2.45 hours to 6.30 hours every day.
“There will be no change in the hours of outages,” said an official requesting anonymity.
The official explained that only if the UI charge is lowered can the consumers from Pune, Thane and Navi Mumbai benefit from the zero load shedding model. This will guarantee uninterrupted power till June.
