Power sector gears up for steady supplies during pujas

The West Bengal government as well as CESC have urged merchant power producers and other state utilities to ensure uninterrupted supplies during the pujas. However, the state?s power distribution company is confident that Bengal?s own production will be enough to provide steady supplies.

Malay Kumar Dey, chairman of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL), told fe the estimated peak demand is not expected to cross 5050mw across the state. While peak demand in WBSEDCL command area is expected to remain at 3500mw, it will be at 1550mw in CESC command area.

?Demand will be normal for the first two days of the pujas (September 24 & 25). But the peak demand will fall in the last three days as most offices and factories will remain closed,? Dey said.

?The puja pandals across the state will not consume more than 150mw and the state?s production itself is expected to meet this demand. But if any of the units under the West Bengal Power Development Corp Ltd (WBPDCL) or CESC fails, then we will have to import power,? Dey said.

In fact, on Tuesday, Kolkata was hit with long hours of loadshedding after a 132 KV cable snapped. A 250mw unit of Budge Budge and a 165mw unit of Southern Generating Station stopped generation, leading to a 635mw shortfall.

CESC officials said keeping in view with such break downs during the pujas, the private sector utility has already informed merchant power producers like Jindal Steel & Power to supply them in such a situation.

CESC supplies to its consumers at Rs 3.90 per unit, but it may have to buy power at a much higher rate, if required. In fact, rates can even exceed double the price at which CESC sells power. But the company has fixed a price band of Rs 5.92 at which it would try to limit its purchase cost per unit.

Dey said except one unit of Sagardighi, all other units in the generating stations under the WBPDCL are operational. The central sector has also been giving West Bengal its share of 750mw for the past few days. There is no shortfall in the WBSEDCL area. If such a situation continues, then there is no question of importing power. But in case of technical snag, WBSEDCL will import power from Orissa.

?We exported some quantity to Orissa a few days back. We may take the same quantity back from Orissa state utilities if required. This will be like a barter trade,? Dey said.