Heat effect, 30% rise in power demand in Haryana
Bhartesh Singh Thakur
Chandigarh, April 18
Steep demand for power is being witnessed in Haryana as compared to last year due to the early onset of summers.
In the past five days (from April 13 to 17), the rise in power ranged from close to 12 per cent to over 30 per cent in comparison to 2021.
Cuts imposed around just 1%
We were expecting 10 per cent rise in demand. But on some days, it has gone above 30 per cent. But cuts imposed have been around just 1 per cent of the total units supplied. PK Das, Additional Chief Secretary, Power
On April 13, against the maximum demand of 8,173 MW, the state was able to meet 8,155 MW. With 1,594.44 lakh units being supplied, cuts for 14.2 lakh units were imposed, which implied 0.9 per cent. There was a rise in consumption by 16.58 per cent as compared to last year.
On April 14, the state provided 7,660 MW against the maximum demand of 7,854 MW. A total of 1,529.60 lakh units were supplied and cuts of 24.83 lakh units (1.6 per cent) were imposed. There was a rise in consumption by 12.08 per cent as compared to 2021.
On April 15, the state met 7,899 MW against the maximum demand of 8,100 MW. Also, 1,562.59 lakh units were supplied and cuts of 7.23 lakh units were imposed (0.5 per cent). A rise of 11.84 per cent was witnessed in consumption.
“On April 16, the maximum demand felt was 8,616 MW and the same was met. A total of 1,576.24 lakh units were supplied and cuts of 24.84 lakh units were imposed (1.6 per cent). There was a rise of 30.04 per cent in consumption as compared to the previous year,” said Additional Chief Secretary, Power, PK Das.
The state could meet 8,135 MW against the maximum demand of 8,297 MW on April 17. A total of 1,468.44 lakh units were supplied and cuts of 13.45 lakh units were imposed — 0.9 per cent of the total supply.
Das said that there has been a huge demand of power which will increase in the coming days. “We were expecting 10 per cent rise in demand. But on some days, it has gone above 30 per cent. But cuts imposed have been around just 1 per cent of the total units supplied,” he added.
Haryana Power Purchase Centre (HPPC) has told Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) that the power situation is critical as there is no supply of 1,424 MW from Adani Power, 380 MW from CGPL Mundra, 432 MW from Faridabad-based gas unit and 600 MW from Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Power Plant’s unit-2 (Hisar).
The state is purchasing 350 MW from RKM Powergen Pvt Ltd of Chhattisgarh, 150 MW from MB Power Madhya Pradesh Ltd and 75 MW from Baglihar hydel power project (J&K). “This will help in managing the current phase,” said Das.
On coal shortage, he said that the state would increase the purchase of imported coal from 4 per cent to 10 per cent.
“At present, we are getting seven to eight rakes as per our requirement. But we need three more rakes per day so that we could prepare a buffer stock for the upcoming rainy season when coal supplies dip due to flooding of coal mines,” he said.
