Amid claims of surplus availability of power, power utility PSPCL in Punjab has now resorted to purchase 5,047 million units (MU) of short-term power through competitive bidding in order to bridge gap between demand and supply during May till September.
With its own power plants' generation capacity coming down to merely one-third because of "reduced availability" of coal, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has filed a petition with power regulator PSERC, seeking its approval for purchase of short-term power.
"...Keeping in view the gap of 5,047 MU, it is prayed that the commission (PSERC) may approve the proposal for purchase of 5047 Mus power on short term basis for the period May to September," petition said.
"PSPCL has no other option but to go for short-term power procurement in view of the serious shortage which is likely despite the best efforts of PSPCL to tie up the requisite quantum of power from long term sources. The reasons for short supply/availability of power are also beyond the control of PSPCL and are mostly related to non-availability or reduced availability of fuel," it further said.
Ahead of much important paddy sowing season, PSPCL is grappling with the problem of gap between demand and supply of power primarily because of less power generation in its own power plants, delay in commissioning of new power plants and reduced availability of power under banking arrangements.
In its petition, PSPCL said it could generate only 800 MW of power at its three own power plants at Ropar, Bathinda and Lehra Mohabbat because of suspension of coal supply by Panem Coal Mines. Currently, PSPCL has 2620 MW of generation capacity at its three thermal power plants.
Panem Coal Mines had suspended coal supply on April 9 this year, demanding increase in coal supply charges, official sources said, adding, Panem meets about 60 per cent of PSPCL's total coal requirements.
On May 6, PSPCL had said it had shut down its eight power generating units out of 13 units which would help conserving coal to meet higher demand of power during paddy season. Though it had claimed that there was no shortage of coal.
Notably, PSPCL had earlier pointed out that due to additional generational capacities added within the State and also from the share in the central sector projects, there would be a surplus availability of electricity to PSPCL during most of the months of 2014-15.
PSPCL in its petition has also said serious transmission constraints have been imposed by National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) in flow of power which would reduce power supply by 1,823 million units under banking system.
The delay in commissioning of new power plants in private sector has also impacted the availability of power to PSPCL.
Rajpura thermal power plant's second unit (660 MW) will come up in August now while Talwandi Sabo thermal plant's first unit (700 MW) is expected in June. However, there will be no power (2X270 MW) available from Goindwal Sahib power plant.
