No load-shedding in State despite searing summer
| Date :04-Jun-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
Effective management has enabled MahaVitaran to navigate power demand without having to undertake load shedding through the simmering summer that is searing the State. This could be possible only due to proper analysis and thereafter planning that involved tying with private power producers for long term power purchases.
Also with increasing tapping of renewable power sources there is no dearth of availability eventhough fourth phase of Koyna has stopped production due to paucity of power. Currently the highest electricity demand of MahaVitaran is in range of 19,000 to 19,500 MW that is fulfilled through the long term power purchase agreements from the thermal power plants and the New and Renewable Sources. MahaVitaran has an excess of 1,144 MW of power under the Zero Schedule Parli set no. 6, 7 Thermal Power Plant and NTPC Thermal Power Plant, Solapur. Similarly there is also option of tapping power through the Power Exchanges equal to the demand in the State.
There the distribution is sitting pretty and does not need to opt for anywhere in the State. At fag end of May, Superintending Engineer, Satara Irrigation Board, informed that Koyna Hydropower Project will be closed until next orders due to very low stock of water in the Koyna Dam. Apart from that phase 1 and 2 of Koyna is generating low tension (40 MW) power. MahaVitaran has long term power purchase agreements with MahaGenco, NTPC, NPCIL, Independent producers and New and Renewable Sources.
MahaVitaran properly plans and keeps a balance between the electricity demand and availability as per the availability of power from these sources. In case there is sudden increase in demand or there is a shortfall of electricity due to any reason, MahaVitaran has option to buy electricity from the power projects under the zero schedule and power exchange to fulfill the demand.