From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, May 5: With the summer heat increasing and demand for power going up, especially from the domestic, offices and hospitality industry for cooling and air-conditioning, energy consumers in Karnataka are now left to contend with load-shedding,
The load-shedding has been necessitiated in the State in view of the increase in demand and the refusal of private power generating companies refusing to supply power to Karnataka’s State grid.
Consequently, all energy consumers throughout the State will be subjected to load shedding across the State from 2 to 6 hours a day.
However, the load shedding in Bangalore City would be for a minimum duration of 2 hours a day.
The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) would announce the load shedding schedule load soon.
Availability of power to the State grid has been reduced by 1650 MW a day.
The private power generating firms denying 650 MW to the State-owned electricity supply companies (Escoms) while the Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) has cut its generation by 600 MW.
There has been reduction in the generation in State-owned thermal power stations.
Giving these details to reporters in Bangalore on Mondahy, State Energy Minister D K Shivakumar said the State’s power generation has been reduced from 8522 MW to 7572 MW owing to technical snags at the Raichur Thermal Power Station and Bellary Thermal Power Station.
The demand for power has been reduced from 185 million units to 165 million units a day owing to decreased demand from the farming community and rains in several districts.
At present barely 712 MW of power would be purchased daily by paying Rs 5.50 per unit, he said.
High Courts of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have stayed the State government decision to invoke Section 11 of the Electricity Act to make mandatory for power generating firms to supply power to only Escoms.
Following the stay orders from the High Courts, the companies have stopped supplying 650 MW to Escoms.
The UPCL has stopped supplying 600 MW to the State grid citing non-availability of coal.
However, the State Government has filed a petition before the Central Electricity Authority and challenged the UPCL decision charge higher tariff to Escoms.
The Government has been paying Rs 3.50 per unit against Rs 4.50 per unit fixed by the UPCL, he said.