Date:01/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/01/stories/2004070108120400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Power cut for some more days

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JUNE 30. Power cut being imposed in parts of the State owing to increased demand, commencement of farm operations and virtually no hydel generation, may continue for two or three more days when the situation is likely to improve.

The AP Transco has said it is forced to resort to these `load relief' purely temporary in nature due to several reasons. The peak demand met during last one week was 6,400 MW compared to 5000 MW during the same period last year, or an increase of 28 per cent.

In terms of actual energy supplied, it was 135.7 MU on an average during the week compared to 107.1 MU last year or an increase of 27 per cent owing to dry spell conditions in the State.

In addition, there have been outages of generating units ranging from 487 MW to 857 MW. The availability of power from all sources put together, excluding outages was 5,400 MW during off peak as against a demand of 5,700 MW and 6000 MW during peak hours. Generation was not possible at Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar due to low reservoir levels.

There was shortage of about 400 MW during peak hours and 300 MW during off peak hours necessitating `load relief.'

To meet these shortages `overdrawal' to the extent possible from Central Generation stations is being resorted at penal rates and keeping in view safety and security of the grid.

However the AP Transco has said the situation will improve with unit 6 at KTPS (110 MW), unit - 4 at VTPS (210MW) and unit 3 of NTPC, Ramagundem (AP share 60 MW) and unit 7 at NLC-II stage (APshare 40 MW) under shut down now, coming back to service in the next three to four days.