PSPCL resorts to short-term purchase
Wednesday, 04/06/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140604/punjab.htm#pl
The proposal by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to revise power rates has acquired a political hue with former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh opposing it, contending that power tariff in the state was already much higher than in other states. With the government failing to overcome the problem of coal shortage at its thermal plants, the PSPCL is left with no option but to buy power at high rates, thus severely burdening the consumers.
The PSPCL has purchased 650 MW from outside the state at high rates to meet demand during the peak paddy season. The demand during the corresponding period last year had touched 8,900 MW whereas the availability was 8,071 MW. Paddy sowing starts in the state in a fortnight.
Reliable sources said following a decline in power generation at the state's thermal plants, the PSPCL had resorted to short-term power purchase and was spending crores on furnace oil.
The per unit oil consumption during April-May was four to seven times higher than the previous years. During May 2014, more than 4 lakh litres of oil, costing 2.5 crore, was used at the Lehra plant. Auxiliary power consumption, which normally remains below 8 per cent, increased to 9.4 per cent in May at the Lehra thermal plant. This means, about 50 lakh units of power, worth Rs 4 crore, was consumed.
The Bathinda thermal plant, which generated 1,325 lakh units in May 2012 and 1,496 lakh in May 2013 generated only 835 lakh units of power in May 2014.
The Ropar thermal plant generated only 4925 lakh units in April 2014 and 5,435 lakh units in May 2014. The generation was 6,890 lakh units in April 2012 and 7,785 lakh units in April 2013. The per unit oil consumption was almost double than that during the previous years.
