Maharashtra consumers cry hoarse over power billing pattern of pvt companies
It is not just “inefficient handling” of supply by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) that the consumers are complaining about. Various consumer organisations have come forward to file petitions with the Maharashtra Energy Regulatory Commission (MERC), accusuing the state power utility as well as private power producers of “pickpocketing” . Atul Pawar, an industrialist who submitted a petition to MERC during its hearing here, said when the MSEDCL orders closing of generation plants of the state power generation utility, the Maharashtra State Electricity Power Generation Company Limited under the Merit Order Dispatch (MOD) mechanism evolved by the energy regulator, it forces companies with higher power costs to go off the grid as the demand drops. He said. “The Bhusawal Thermal Power Station (BTPS) units with 500 MW capacity each producing 24 million units collectively aday have been shut down since July 3. But power is being bought from private players at higher rates.” Incidentally, power supply from a private company is being bought at a rate higher than the units of BTPS providing power at Rs 2.88 per unit that have been put on ‘reserve shut down (RSD)’ – they are off the grid and have stopped producing power. “The MOD mechanism has been designed in a way that consumers get power at lower costs. Yet, the system is not being implemented in totality and this is largely because of grey areas in its implementation,” a superintending engineer with the Maharashtra State Electricity Power Generation Company Limited said on the condition of anonymity. Consumers were also weary of the “compensatory tariff” issue which is currently being decided upon by the Supreme Court. The compensatory tariff does not exist at present. A private energy producer had applied to the energy regulator in Maharashtra for compensation of additional expenses incurred by his company for production following the rise in cost price of raw material. It was not considered while preparing the power purchase agreement with the power utility. “The MERC had said that MSEDCL ‘may’ allow it and it is currently being battled in the court of law. While the matter is sub-judice, the rise in compensatory tariff sought was Rs 1.04 per unit of power over and above the agreed rate between the private company and MSEDCL. This is going to be tough for the consumers – especially the industrial and commercial consumers who are charged accordingly,” said the statement of the Maharashtra State Power Employees’, Engineers’ and Officers’ Joint Action Committee. “Both the issues are important and need a sound decision. This has the potential of saving the consumers from being exploited by the private players,” said Suyog Zute, general secretary, Graduates Engineers’ Association. Art Monk Womens Jersey
There’s need to revisit existing format of PPAs for thermal power plants: EAS Sarna, Ex-Power Secy
FOrmer Secretary (Power) to Government of India, EAS Sarna said that there was need to revisit the existing format of the power purchase agreements (PPAs) for thermal power plants to eliminate the necessity of having to pay for deemed generation. Sarna in a letter to Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) and others has written that state power utilities signing PPAs with private companies with a “deemed generation” clause, which forces them to pay for the power they may not need during lean period, should be reviewed. Further special audit of private sector thermal plants is necessary to safeguard the public interest. In his letter Sarna wrote, “In the liberalised regime introduced by amendments to the Electricity Act in 2003, the Centre and the States went berserk in clearing a very large number of thermal power projects, mostly coal-based, proposed by private companies, leading to a surplus thermal capacity which was meant to cater to the steady component of the electricity demand. In the past, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) used to exercise due diligence in regulating additions to thermal capacity so as to minimize the backing down of thermal plants. The liberalised regime of 2003 discontinued such a regulatory oversight, opening the floodgates to proliferation of private thermal generation capacity across the States. Instead of assuming the risk of finding alternate consumers for the power generated by them, the private developers setting up thermal power plants took undue advantage of the over exuberance displayed by the States in inviting investments and forced them to sign PPAs with a deemed generation clause, thereby transferring the risk of finding an outlet for their power to the States. In the liberalised set up that exists today, the private developers should be persuaded to take on some risks. The States ought to have so designed the format for competitive bidding as to obviate the scope for having to pay for the power they may not need during the off-peak hours. In such a case, it is for the private developer to find alternate sets of customers to absorb their surplus power. The losses to the public exchequer on account of the “Deemed Generation” clause in the PPAs are mindboggling large. These are amounts that public sector utilities are forced to pay to private companies and indirectly, the huge cost burden is passed on either to the electricity consumers in the State. As an immediate measure to stop this plunder of public money, there should be an embargo on additions to thermal power capacity, especially in the private sector. Simultaneously, there is need to revisit the existing format of the PPAs for thermal power plants to eliminate the necessity of having to pay for deemed generation. In the liberalised set up that exists today, the private developers should be persuaded to take on some risks.” EAS Sarna requested the CAG to conduct a special audit of this across the States as otherwise the losses to the public exchequer would continue to mount to a formidable proportion. It is important that this issue is analysed thoroughly and the matter is posed for discussion in the Parliament and the State legislatures. Dre Kirkpatrick Authentic Jersey
Chandigarh: Power Ministry orders underground substation at Hallo Majra, delays project by 2 yrs
In a setback to the Chandigarh electricity department, which is already struggling to upgrade its ageing infrastructure, the Union Ministry of Power Saturday rejected the proposal of setting up a conventional 220 KV substation at Hallo Majra. While Power Grid, which was authorised to set up the sub-station had submitted the proposal of a conventional outdoor substation for approval, the ministry has ordered the firm to set up an underground substation instead of a conventional one. As a result of this decision, the project will be delayed as Power Grid will have to again start from scratch. Also, this will be the first underground substation in the region. As per official records, presently, there is only one 220 KV substation in the region and the electricity department desperately needs another one to cope up with the increasing load. There are 13 66 KV substations and five 33 KV substations in the city. Each sub-station has a life span of 25 years and around six 66 KV substations are over that time span. Superintending engineer MP Singh said that it will take around two years for constructing and making the under ground substation operational. “Once complete, the substation will be capable of meeting the region’s load requirement for the next 15 years,” said MP Singh. While conventional substations are constructed in open air, underground substations are set up in basements. Constructing a substation under the ground reduces space requirements and the space on surface can be utilised for other purposes. Although the existing infrastructure has the maximum load capacity of 410 megawatt (MW), this year during the summer season, southern sectors faced a tough time due to frequent outages caused by overloading of the system. On May 20, the peak power demand had touched 401 MW, breaking all previous records. The previous record was registered on July 11, 2014, when power consumption had touched 395 MW. For the financial years of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, the peak demand has been projected to be around 450MW and 475MW respectively by the department. Project marred by delays The Rs 150-crore-project has been marred by delays. The project was accorded approval by the Union Ministry of Power’s standing committee on power system planning for the northern region way back in January 2013. Thereafter, the electricity department struggled to get land allotted for the project. After toiling hard, land measuring 3 acres was earmarked in Hallomajra for the project. The electricity department caters to a total of 2.12 lakh consumers, out of which 1.75 lakh are in the domestic category. Of the total, there is regular billing of around 94 per cent of the consumers. New Devils Authentic Jersey
24×7 power supply by 2019 : MSPCL
The Manipur State Power Company Limited (MSPCL) has prepared a vision document for providing 24×7 power for all by 2019 . The expected accumulated transmission capacity of the state by 2019 will increase manifold within the next few years said N Sarat Singh, MD MSPCL during a press conference held here today at DIPR organized by DIPR. MSPCL has reached out to all corners of the State and may not require to create additional infra structure for the next two decades. In pursuance of Electricity Act, 2003, the erstwhile Electricity Department, Government of Manipur was unbundled and Corporatized into two State owned functionally independent successor entities i.e. (i) Manipur State Power Company Limited (MSPCL) as deemed transmission licensee and (ii) Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) as the deemed distribution licensee respectively w.e.f. the 1st of February, 2014 . Manipur State Power Company Limited (MSPCL) is responsible for wheeling of available power through Bulk Power Purchase Agreement, Medium Term & Short Term Open Access in the intrastate grid of 33 KV and Manipur has no meaningful own generation and entirely depends on the share allocation from Central Sector Generating Stations (CSGS) . Earlier Manipur suffered a lot during dry season in power supply management with allocated share of 30/40 MW against a requirement of 100 MW during day time in lean period. Further, due to constraints in the Interstate Transmission line of Dimapur – Imphal ; Leimatak – Imphal 132 KV line State’s drawal was always restricted to 100/110 MW leading to regular load shedding in the State. Now with the allocation of 24×7 base load of 42 MW from Pallatana Power Plant w.e.f 4.1.2014 and 19 MW from the first Unit of Bongaigaon Thermal Power Plant from April 4, 2016, power supply scenario in Manipur has changed drastically. As of today, during monsoon, allocated share of power is around 200 MW and with the installation of prepaid meters the actual demand of the State during peak hour has come down to 150/160 MW. Thus, the State has become sufficient with the allocation made so far except during lean period which can be managed through Power Banking or other mechanism. Electricity Department had taken a key role for the construction of 400 KV D/C line from Silchar to Imphal, initially charged at 132 KV voltage against the NER constituent States’ insistence for construction of 220 KV D/C line as an Associated Transmission System (ATS) of 726.6 MW Pallatana Power Plant and 750 MW Thermal Power Plant at Bongaigaon and installation of 2×50 MVA, 132/33 KV Sub-Station at Imphal (PG) under system strengthening scheme for the above. The commissioning of 400 KV Silchar – Imphal D/C line charged at 132 KV, on March 15, 2015 created a new era for the State as the inter-State Available Transmission Capacity(ATC) has been enhanced considerably and load shedding has become a past history. Government of Manipur joined the JV Company ie the North East Transmission Company Ltd (NETC) formed for the construction of 650 Kms long 400 KV D/C trunk line from Pallatana – Silchar – Bongaigaon with equity share of 6% , and contributed Rs 24.681 crore. The trunk line is used as Associated Transmission System (ATS) for evacuation of allocated shares of all beneficiary States including Manipur from the power projects at Pallatana and Bongaigaon. MSPCL has received Rs 7,40,52,000/- as dividend for the year 2014-15 and dividend for 2015-16 is expected anytime. During the past six years MSPCL has added 306 MVA, 302 MVA in 132 KV, 33 KV transmission systems respectively. There are now 12, 132 33 KV stations, 74, 33/11 KV stations, There are 537 km of 132 KV. The 18th Electric Power Survey of Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power, Government of India, forecasted requirement of 428 MW in 2019- 2020 and MSPCL has taken up action plan for placement of appropriate infrastructure at different load centres of the State including adoption of higher transmission voltage of 400 KV system. Manipur has created a new history in transmission system with first time construction of 4×105 MVA, 400/132 KV sub-station with single phase transformer including one spare at Thoubal and it is targeted to be commissioned within this year, quite ahead of scheduled time of completion. The 4th Standing Committee Meeting on Power System Planning in NER held at Guwahati on December 13, 2014 had approved upgradation of 2×50 MVA 132/33 KV sub-station at Imphal (PG) to 7×105 MVA, 400/132 KV sub-station with single phase transformer including one spare as North Eastern Regional System Strengthening Scheme – IV (NERSS –IV). And the 5th Standing Committee Meeting on Power System Planning in NER held at Imphal on August 8, 2015 had agreed to provide space for two 400 KV bays at Imphal (PG) to be built by MSPCL. The 5th Standing Committee Meeting on Power System Planning in NER also agreed to the extension of 400 KV D/C line from Imphal (PG) – New Kohima to Misa via New Mariani as NERSS – VI. This may ensure stability and reliability in the entire region in the power supply system from the 400 KV D/C ring main system comprising of Misa – Balipara –Bongaigaon – Azara -Byrnihat -Silchar-Imphal- New Kohima-Mariani- Misa. MSPCL has taken up the construction of five 132/33 KV sub- stations at Tipaimukh (2×12.5 MVA), Elangkhangpokpi (2×20 MVA), Thanlon (2×12.5 MVA), Moreh (2×12.5 MVA) and Thoubal (2×20 MVA). Another 19 33/11 kV sub-stations with the installed capacity of 123 MVA is also being taken up in different load centres of the State. Leimatak – Ningthoukhong 132 KV 2nd Circuit D/C line and third 132 KV Imphal (PG) – Impha(State) line is also taken up to avoid overloading in the transmission system as indicated in the load flow study. Initiative taken up for expansion of 132 KV system infrastructure to the remotest corners like Thanlon and Tipaimukh at high cost is to deliver good quality and reliable power with good voltage regulation. Renovation and Modernisation of six old
Two more units of Lower JuralaHydel project ready for commercial operation
The Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Ltd (TS-Genco) has declared two units of 40 MW each at the (6 x 40 MW) Lower Jurala Hydro-Electric Project at Revulapally in Mahabubnagar district commercially operational. Director (Hydel) of TS-Genco Ch. Venkata Rajam said on Saturday that the two units were declared commercially operational on July 28 following the installed capacity tests done in the presence of representatives of the two Discoms, TS-Transco and TS Power Coordination Committee. The commencement of commercial operation of the units 3 and 4 of the Lower Jurala hydel project would add 80 MW to TS-Genco’s capacity, he stated. The two units would be in a position to supply 120 MW of generation during peak hours when there is flow in the river below Jurala reservoir through spillway discharges or water let out after power generation in the hydel unit at the reservoir site. Meanwhile, generation of power at the 6×39 MW Priyadarshini Jurala Hydro-Electric Project at the dam site is going on from July 21 with the number of units generating power depending on inflows into the reservoir. Sam Mills Womens Jersey
Tata Power’s South African JV commissions 134 mw wind and energy farm
Tata Power Company’s joint venture in South Africa has commissioned a 134 megawatt wind energy farm in the country, the Tata group utility said in a press statement on Friday. Tata Power’s 50:50 JV with Exxaro Resources in South Africa, namely Cennergi (Pty) achieved commercial operations for its 134 MW Amakhala Emoyeni Wind Farm Project on Thursday. Cennergi was selected as the preferred bidder for two wind projects under the second window of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme by the South African government. The statement said that Cennergi’s second wind project is expected to go into commercial operations shortly. “Tata Power has been pursuing growth opportunities in India and overseas. The commissioning of Amakhala Wind farm, Tata Power’s first wind project outside India, marks the company’s continued progress on its objectives of enhancing non-fossil based generation portfolio up to 30-40% of its total generating capacity and thereby creating value for its stakeholders,” said Anil Sardana, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Power. Eric Rowe Authentic Jersey
Power crisis hits state as 2 plants suspend opreations
With the Kanti Bijli Utpadan Nigam Limited (unit-1) in Muzaffarpur and NTPC’s Kahalgaon super thermal power plant (unit-5) in Bhagalpur suspending operations due to technical reasons, major parts of the state have been reeling under acute power crisis. Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited (BSPHCL) spokesman H R Pandey on Wednesday said, “The boiler tube leakage of unit 1 of KBUNL since July 25 and the 25-day annual maintenance of unit 5 of the Kahalgaon power plant since July 5 have led to power shortage.” Of the total 3092MW power to be allocated to Bihar from the Centre, the state has been receiving a meagre 2617MW of power. According to sources,Patna normally requires nearly 500MW of power in peak hours. Since some parts of the state are flooded, power supply in those areas have been snapped as a precautionary measure. Marcus Morris Authentic Jersey
In 300-km range of any power plant: Fly ash mandatory for constructing new buildings
The state government has made it mandatory for all new buildings to be constructed using material containing fly ash, aiming to dispose of the entire quantity produced across Maharashtra without causing environment pollution and health hazards. Fly ash or coal dust is the ash produced in small dark flecks due to the burning of powdered coal during electricity generation and is very harmful to health and environment. It can, however, be used by the construction industry in making concrete and bricks. A senior official with the state public works department said, “We have made it compulsory for all new construction in the vicinity of 300 kilometres of any power plant in the state to use building construction material having fly ash. Considering Maharashtra’s area and the location of power plants, this will cover the entire state.” He added that for cities with a population of over one crore, the municipal corporations will amend the development control regulation to make the use of fly ash compulsory in building construction. Earlier, as per the Centre’s norms, it was compulsory for all construction projects in the vicinity of 100 kilometres of power plants to use material made out of fly ash. However, despite this, a large quantity of fly ash still remains unused prompting the government to come up with stricter regulation. Maharashtra currently produces three million tonne of fly ash every year, of which only about 60 per cent is used, while the rest is dumped and becomes a major source of pollution for areas in the vicinity, the official said. “The new decision will enable Maharashtra to become completely free of fly ash,” he added. Fly ash can typically make about 15-20 per cent of the concrete mix and is said to enhance the structural stability. With the cost of transporting fly ash from the thermal power station to the project site also being a deterrent for its use in the construction industry, the state government has now made it mandatory for the thermal power plant to bear all transportation costs within a distance of 100 kilometres. Beyond that, the cost is expected to be equally shared between the power plant and the user of fly ash. “The idea behind this is to reduce the cost of material produced from fly ash so that it is beneficial for the ultimate consumer,” a PWD engineer said. Besides private projects, the state also plans to use material containing fly ash for the construction of all public buildings, cement roads, bridges and other infrastructure under various government schemes. Seth Roberts Jersey
Piyush Goyal inducts Urban Vidyut Abhiyantas to monitor Integrated Power Scheme
Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday inducted Urban Vidyut Abhiyantas (UVAs) to monitor the implementation of the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS). Mission mode The Minister said the UVAs will take the work on a mission mode, similar to the Grameen Vidyut Abhiyantas deputed for the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana. Goyal further said they will upload their reports on the implementation of the scheme on the URJA mobile application of the Ministry of Power in an effort to increase transparency. Some of the UVAs will be inducted in the State power distribution companies. These UVAs have an experience of 3-15 years in project management/distribution franchisee/infrastructure sector. The IPDS is part of the Ministry of Power’s efforts to ensure 24×7 electricity availability to all by 2022 and has a total outlay of ? 65,424 crore. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Power also announced on Thursday that the National Smart Grid Mission, along with USAID, has launched the first in a series of training programmes to develop skills of utility personnel to develop a smart grid infrastructure. Quality power Vishal Kapoor, Director-Distribution, Ministry of Power, said: “India expects to provide 24×7 quality power to all its people. The power generated will comprise a large share of renewable energy. “Managing renewable and conventional energy calls for a grid that is smart and capable of providing electricity to the remote corners of the country.” Michael Palardy Jersey
Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu among 4 states to join UDAY soon
Four states, including Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, may soon join the Centre’s UDAY scheme meant for revival of debt-stressed power distribution companies. “Power Ministry talks with Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on UDAY scheme are at advance stages. These states are likely to join the scheme very soon,” a source said. Madhya Pradesh can formally ink the agreement in a few weeks, the source said. Madhya Pradesh discoms have an accumulated debt of Rs. 35,000 crore. The state is estimated to get benefit to the extent of Rs. 11,500 crore during next three years of the turnaround. Following the reforms, it could go up to Rs. 14,500 crore annually. In the case of Tamil Nadu, the source said the total debt is Rs. 67,000 crore, including around Rs. 46,000 crore in the distribution segment. It is estimated that during three years of the turnaround, the state will get cumulative benefit of Rs. 18,600 crore. After three years, the annual benefits are estimated at Rs. 22,420 crore. Power Minister Piyush Goyal has recently met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in an effort to get the state on board on UDAY. Similarly, Telangana discoms’ debt stands at around Rs. 6,700 crore. For the three years of reforms, the cumulative benefit is estimated at Rs. 6,000 crore, following which the state will see it go up to Rs. 6,100 crore annually. Puducherry has a debt load of Rs. 423 crore and will get benefits of Rs. 440 crore annually after implementation of UDAY scheme in three years. Earlier this week on Tuesday, Manipur became the 14th state to join the UDAY scheme, for which the gains translate into around Rs. 263 crore. It is also the first North Eastern state to opt for UDAY for improving efficiency of its discoms. The UDAY scheme was launched by the Centre in November last year to revive debt-laden power distribution companies. Bryan Anger Womens Jersey