The power-starved Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has decided to source close to 1,000 mw of power per month from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) approved merchant power trader to offset the peak-demand shortage faced by the high-tension (HT) users in the state.
The state-owned power utility, TNEB, is under fire from different quarters for clamping long hours of power outage to industries. TNEB would also buy an additional 500 MW of power from merchant traders from November onwards to meet the peak hour shortage during night time.
Sources in the know told FE that TNEB has already initiated the process to purchase power from CERC approved traders from November onwards.
According to TNEB sources, the minimum quantum of power offered should be 50 MW from single source except for those sourced from captive power plants (CPPs) or generators in Tamil Nadu. The selected traders would arrange for open access to lift the power from the delivery point.
As per open access regulations, the trader has to book the transmission system corridor after making necessary advance payments. The board, to satisfy the energy needs of the state, has an installed capacity of 10,214 mw, which includes central share and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).