The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Transco threat to switch off power to seven districts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 23, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Transco threat to switch off power to seven districts

Special Correspondent

Second notice served on Discom for drawing more than the allotted quota

HYDERABAD: The AP Transco has served a second notice on AP Central Power Distribution Company warning it that supply will be switched off to its areas--seven districts, including Hyderabad (urban).

According to a senior Transco official, the discom has become a "major headache" to the State grid in ensuring quality and reliable power supply during this critical period of shortage.

The company is often found drawing more power than its allotted quota, resulting in frequent fall of the grid frequency and threatening to trip the power stations in the entire South.

The official said while the rest of the three companies confined themselves to the load restrictions prescribed in view of the shortage, the APCPDCL was found drawing 675 MW more than the allotted 2,700 MW.

As if adding to the woes of the grid, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala have lodged a complaint with the Southern States Electricity Board, Bangalore, against persistent State's "overdrawal" pushing the frequency down.

Additional supply

Meanwhile, responding to a plea, Orissa and Kerala have also started supplying 100 MW power each to Andhra Pradesh to tide over the shortage.

This is in addition to 300 MW being supplied by Tamil Nadu. These purchases coupled with assistance from Central stations have not fully solved the State's problem as a demand-supply gap of about 10 million units continues.

Power cut

This situation has forced the AP Transco not to look back on the power cut implemented for domestic and commercial sectors, which at times is going up to four hours at a stretch in the rural areas.

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