The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Rains trigger dip in electricity consumption by 34 million units

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rains trigger dip in electricity consumption by 34 million units

B.S. Satish Kumar

State will supply 300 MW power to Madhya Pradesh up till February end

Daily power consumption was nearly 120 million units on October 17
It dropped to 85.88 million units on October 22

BANGALORE: It seems that only rains can provide a solution to the power problems of the State. In fact, Karnataka was on the verge of a power crisis a few weeks ago.

The rains in the last five days have triggered a sharp decline in the State’s power consumption and eased the power supply situation.

The daily power consumption of the State, that had witnessed a 50 per cent increase and touched nearly 120 million units on October 17, has dropped to 85.88 MU on October 22.

The huge reduction in power consumption by about 34 MU is due to the recent spells of rain. The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) officials attribute the change in the power consumption pattern to the reduction in consumption by irrigation pump sets in villages.

Change in weather

Similarly, in urban areas, the change in the weather pattern has brought down usage of air-conditioners and fans.

All these factors have contributed to the overall reduction in the State’s power consumption.

Sources in the Load Despatch Centre, which monitors the power supply situation in the State, told The Hindu that the parched areas in the State, such as Kolar, Davangere, Chitradurga and Bangalore Rural district had been receiving good rain in the last five days.

These areas, which have a large number of irrigation pump sets, account for huge power consumption. Hence, rain in these areas would reduce power consumption.

With the reduction in power consumption, KPTCL has stopped the purchase of costly power from Independent Power Producers (IPPs). KPTCL had been procuring power from IPPs like Tanir Bavi Power Company Limited for some days to tide over the power shortage.

Any further change in the power consumption pattern would depend on the performance of the north-east monsoon. The situation is expected to ease further if the north-east monsoon continues to perform well in the coming days.

Taking advantage of the change in the state’s weather pattern, Karnataka has now started supplying 300 MW of power to Madhya Pradesh, which is facing a power shortage.

The power supply to Madhya Pradesh will continue till February end, a couple of weeks before the beginning of the summer season in the State.

According to sources, this is a “banking” arrangement wherein Madhya Pradesh would reciprocate the gesture by supplying power to Karnataka during March-July summer season.

This would ease the power crunch during summer months when Karnataka’s consumption increases.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka