 "Lok Sabha elections push power demand in UP")
The Lok Sabha elections have pushed up power demand in Uttar Pradesh by almost 10 per cent above the normal demand-supply gap witnessed during summers.
While state power utility, UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), has the onerous task of balancing the demand-supply equation during summer, the elections have further widened the gap.
The unrestricted power demand has been pegged at almost 13,500 Mw on a daily basis, while UPPCL is able to provide under 11,500 Mw through state and private sector power generation, hydropower, cogeneration, importing from central sector, buying power from energy exchange, etc.
“The district headquarters on the other hand are provided uninterrupted power supply till 6 am the following day of polling,” UPPCL director (distribution), S Prasad, told Business Standard.
The non-polling areas have been witnessing long and erratic power cuts to meet the shortfall. Even the state capital of Lucknow, which is officially free from power cuts, has had its share of woes this season. Power outages and local breakdown of power due to transformer failure are common.
The uninterrupted power supply is deemed imperative in view of polling activities, security of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and EVMs’ submission to strong rooms.
Besides, election time means movement of security columns for poll duty and electioneering by top politicians, which have added to the rising power demand in UP.
So far, three phases of polling (April 10, 17, 24) in UP had been completed and another three phases (April 30, May 7, 12) are still to come. This implies the precarious power situation would persist for at least another 15-20 days.
The incremental electricity demand by consumers has already been putting pressure on the state power mandarins to cut burgeoning line losses, check rampant power theft, improve realisation and procure more power for industrial and domestic feeders.
While state power utility, UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), has the onerous task of balancing the demand-supply equation during summer, the elections have further widened the gap.
The unrestricted power demand has been pegged at almost 13,500 Mw on a daily basis, while UPPCL is able to provide under 11,500 Mw through state and private sector power generation, hydropower, cogeneration, importing from central sector, buying power from energy exchange, etc.
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The constituencies going to polls are taken off the roster schedule and provided uninterrupted power supply. The uninterrupted supply to poll-bound districts starts from 6 am on the previous day of polling and remains in place till 10 pm of the polling day in rural areas.
“The district headquarters on the other hand are provided uninterrupted power supply till 6 am the following day of polling,” UPPCL director (distribution), S Prasad, told Business Standard.
The non-polling areas have been witnessing long and erratic power cuts to meet the shortfall. Even the state capital of Lucknow, which is officially free from power cuts, has had its share of woes this season. Power outages and local breakdown of power due to transformer failure are common.
The uninterrupted power supply is deemed imperative in view of polling activities, security of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and EVMs’ submission to strong rooms.
Besides, election time means movement of security columns for poll duty and electioneering by top politicians, which have added to the rising power demand in UP.
So far, three phases of polling (April 10, 17, 24) in UP had been completed and another three phases (April 30, May 7, 12) are still to come. This implies the precarious power situation would persist for at least another 15-20 days.
The incremental electricity demand by consumers has already been putting pressure on the state power mandarins to cut burgeoning line losses, check rampant power theft, improve realisation and procure more power for industrial and domestic feeders.