HYDERABAD: If the aggregate revenue requirement (ARR) filed by the Discoms for the forthcoming year is anything to go by, Telangana will become an energy surplus state in 2018-19.According to the ARRs filed by the Disocms before the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC), the energy availability would be 67,572 MUs in 2018-19. However, the energy requirement would be only 64,291 MUs. Which means the energy surplus will be 3,282 MUs. The Discoms, however, filed tariff proposals separately later. Whether there will be hike in power tariff or not will be known only after filing the tariff proposals.
However, the aggregate revenue requirement of the Discoms was increased to `35,774 crore for 2018-19. Power purchase cost, including pension liabilities, will be `27,903 crore. The ARR increased by `7,361 crore when compared to the approved ARR of `28,413 crore for 2017-18 to `35,774 crore for 2018-19. The reasons for increase in ARR are the increase in power purchase cost due to increase in fuel and transportation cost. These costs have increased by `1,210 crore, the Discoms stated.
The increase of power purchase cost for meeting the 24-hours power supply to agriculture sector will be `2,550 crore. The Discoms required 5,088 MUs additional power to provide 24-hour power to agriculture sector.Increase in power purchase cost for meeting additional sales from other categories will be `2,404 crore and increase in network charges due to additional power procurement will be `1,123 crore, according to Discoms.
Supply of 24-hour power to all agricultural consumers in the state will be provided from January 1, 2018.
The Discoms also expressed hope that the solar power projects from 2015 competitive bidding and earlier power purchase agreements (PPAs) would be fully operational this year.In line with the availability pattern of Hydel generation over previous few years and monsoon, availability of hydel power was projected at 3,140 MUs. According to Discoms, the average cost of supply of power is `6.42 per unit.