AP Govt aims at 24x7 power supply despite coal crisis

Amaravati: The power utilities are planning to supply uninterrupted power to the consumers during the summer despite power deficit. Non-availability of adequate coal and gas are the main reasons for the deficit in power production and at the same time, demand has been increasing. 

In fact, the AP State has been consistently facing a deficit of about 1000 to 1100 MW of power in May due to less availability of about 400 MW power from Central Generating Stations, 400 MW from KSK Mahanadi plant and 300 MW from Lower Sileru project.

This has resulted in deficit of about 24 MU of energy per day. The demand increased from projected 162 MU/day to 175 MU.  The energy available from Wind and Solar plants also dipped.

Due to the shortage in power generation, the power utilities are purchasing power from (national) power exchange. The AP Transco CMD K Vijayanand said that the government was cautious in purchasing of power at low price comparing prices in the Exchange platform.

“In fact, IEX met record 190 MU/day and peak price was Rs. 11.60/kWh in May. Against this weighted average rate at national level, APDISCOMs purchased energy through exchange at a weighted average rate of Rs.4.45/kwh only,” he said.

He said around 3623 MU of power was procured from the National Power Exchange in May 2018 (up to May 24), a minimum of about 10 MU (average) per day. 

The latest report of CEA on coal availability on all India basis shows that against a normal availability of 22 days of stock, only 10 days stock is available. The report also mentioned that the coal stocks in DSTPS, VTPS and RTPP were very less.

Further, from April 1, 2017 to till May 24, 2018, APDISCOMs sold energy to other utilities and earned a revenue of Rs 650 crore. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has given top priority for energy sector.

The state has become a power cut free state by overcoming the crisis of 22.5 MU power deficit during 2014-15 with surplus power and able to meet 9000 MW peak demand with around 6000 MW capacity of solar and wind. Now the Chief Minister aims to make the state to  become 100% power Interruption-free.

The installing capacity (cumulative) was improved from 16,471 MW (in 2017) to 18,038 MW in 2018. Similarly, solar power improved from 1,881 MW to 2148 MW and wind power from 3, 604 MW to 3,952 MW. The number of 33/11 kv substations increased from 2,766 to 2,881.

The power utilities successfully managed to reduce transmission and distribution losses. According to officials, distribution losses were decreased to 7.09 % in 2018 from 7.11% in 2017. Similarly, transmission loss reduced to 2.83% from 2.92% in 2017. Now the government is working towards providing 24x7 uninterrupted power supply in the state.