The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Power consumption increases sharply

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 17, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Power consumption increases sharply

B. S. Satish Kumar

Rise in power consumption attributed to
absence of rain
Daily consumption in State has touched
120 million units

BANGALORE: For the State’s power sector, it is a strange feeling of summer right in the middle of the winter season. The State’s power consumption has been on the rise since last month just as it is in summer.

The State’s daily power consumption, which stood below 100 million units (mu) till November 11, has now touched 120 mu. The caution bells are already ringing as unscheduled load shedding is being enforced as and when the consumption reaches beyond the availability level during the peak hours.

Sources in the Load Despatch Centre, which monitors power supply in the State, said all the distribution stations have been given a quota. When consumption exceeds the quota, such stations resort to unscheduled load shedding. It has been made mandatory to ensure that the power supply frequency did not fall below the danger mark which could result in the collapse of the power grid.

The steep increase in power consumption is mainly attributed to the absence of rain for a long time. The excessive use of irrigation pumpsets to supply groundwater to protect the standing crops is said to be one of the main factors which fuelled the sharp increase in the state’s power consumption. Karnataka has about 16 lakh IP sets and they account for 26 to 30 per cent of the State’s power consumption. The sharp increase in power consumption in the winter season has caused concern in the power sector as this is an indication of things to come in the summer. The State has resumed procurement of costly power generated by independent power producers. It is also buying 100 MW of power from Kerala.

The State has already despatched a team of officials to Punjab to enquire about the possibility of getting 250 to 300 MWs of power from there, according to sources.

Projection

An energy load projection by the State power utility has indicated that power demand during peak summer is likely to touch a record high of 148 million units, according to the sources.

The power utility had projected a demand of 140 mu for the last summer. However, the actual consumption then was pegged around 130 MUs as a power crisis gripped the State. But this time, the utility has projected much higher demand for power. The higher demand is due to the rapid increase in the number of new industrial and commercial units besides residential houses. The summer sets in for the power sector from February itself and reaches the peak during March.

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