Telangana has transformed itself from a power deficit state about 30 months ago to a situation where it is in a position to ensure 24x7 (power cut less) supply to consumers.

A series of measures starting from capacity addition, power purchases, commissioning of renewable power projects and a new inter-State power supply line to evacuate from power surplus State of Chhattisgarh to the State and judicious management have helped tide over the demand supply mismatch, a senior official in the energy department told BusinessLine.

Demand-supply gap

When the new State came into being in June 2014, about two-and-a-half years ago, it started with a huge deficit of over 2,000 to 2,500 MW. However, the commissioning of a couple of Genco projects and 1,200 MW thermal power plant of Singareni Collieries Company Limited in Adilabad and solar power projects, have all played a role in ensuring the demand supply gap has been significantly bridged.

In addition, the State has made arrangements for purchase of over 500 MW during the peak summer months and would augment another 1,000 MW from Chhattisgarh with the commissioning of a dedicated transmission line from Wardha to Dichpally.

A measure of how things have transformed in the past 30 months can be gauged from the fact that the industries now get 24x7 power as against 3-day power holiday in 2013-14. The 765 kva line being set up by PowerGrid Corporation will be ready in time for supply during the summer months.

Solar power projects

The State which had tendered out setting up of solar power projects in the State is poised to achieve an installed capacity of over 2,000 MW by June and about 3,000 MW by the year-end.

The power from the solar plants is proposed to be supplied to the farm sector during the day time. Of the nine hours that the State proposes to supply for the farm operations during the ongoing rabi season, when the demand for power shoots up, supply will be for six hours during the day and the rest in the night time when the energy demand comes down.

Lately, the demand has shot up to about 9,000 MW and the State utilities are managing to meet the enhanced demand of about 170 to 180 million units per day.

Medium term purchases

While the State anticipates the demand to spiral up to 10,000 MW, efforts are under way to ensure there is no demand supply mismatch. It proposes to bridge the gap through medium term power purchases.

The State expects the rabi crop power demand to gradually taper down by middle of April, which would enable it to manage the demand supply situation without load shedding.