Himachal to get power at cheap rate from Centre in winter

The Central Government has agreed to provide 500 million units of power at a relatively cheaper rate to Himachal Pradesh during lean winter months. This will save the hill state from purchasing electricity at very high rates, as generation declines with the onset of the winter.

Union Minister for Power Manohar Lal Khattar had assured Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, during a recent visit to New Delhi, of providing 500 million units of electricity to Himachal during the winter. Himachal has to purchase power at very high rates to meet its demand during winter months from October to March.

The Central Electricity Authority has agreed to provide 500 million units of power to Himachal from the unallocated reserve during the winter. The decision was taken on the request of the Union Power Ministry, which accepted Himachal’s request for electricity allocation during the winter.

Himachal requires 1,200 million units of additional power during the winter and almost half of this will be met from 500 million units that Khattar has assured Sukhu of providing to the state. The Central Government will provide this assured power from the unallocated reserve at a much cheaper rate. Since power received from the unallocated reserve will be supplied at least Rs 2 cheaper than the market rates, Himachal hopes to save up to Rs 100 crore annually.

Himachal is facing greater power shortage due to reduced generation at the Larji hydroelectric project in Mandi, which had suffered extensive damage during the monsoon.

The state has been following the banking system for the past few years but purchasing power during the winter is a very expensive proposition. Of the total power demand of Himachal, 70 per cent is required by the industry while the remaining is supplied to 16 lakh domestic consumers.

Himachal is a power surplus state with the peak generation witnessed during the summer. However, the state’s own power requirement escalates during the winter when the melting of snow is the minimum, resulting in reduced generation.

1,200 million additional units required

• The Central Electricity Authority has agreed to provide 500 million units of power to Himachal from the unallocated reserve during the winter
• Himachal requires 1,200 million units of additional power during the winter and almost half of this will be met from 500 million units
• Himachal is facing greater power shortage due to reduced generation at the Larji hydroelectric power project in Mandi district