BANGALORE: Some captive power producers (CPPs), in response to an invitation from Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL), on Friday offered to supply about one million units (mu) of power to the State grid every day to tide over the shortage.

But this is not enough considering the State requires an additional 15 mu to 23 mu a day to meet demand during peak hours in summer, at least for another 30 to 45 days. Therefore, KPTCL managing director Bharatlal Meena, who is also chairman of the State's five electricity supply companies (escoms), directed the chief engineers of KPTCL and the escoms to contact all prominent CPPs in their jurisdiction with a capacity of more than 1,000 MVA to persuade them to supply power to the State grid.

Sources in KPTCL told The Hindu that the State would require about Rs. 300 crore a month to source this additional power from the CPPs during peak hours till April-end.

The offer to supply 1 mu a day was made at the first meeting with the CPPs convened by KPTCL in Bangalore on Friday to persuade them to supply excess power to the State grid.

Only 12 CPPs turned up for the meeting though KPTCL had expected 30. Mr. Meena, who presided over the meeting, said officials of the escoms would soon contact the remaining CPPs.

He said there was good potential for tapping captive power, as the State had an installed capacity of 800 MW among the big players whose individual capacities exceeded 1 MW.

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