Though the low pressure-induced rains across the State brought down temperature, it has triggered a crisis on the power front.
The State-run Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) had to shut down the 600 MW Indravati hydro power station following flash floods in Hati river in Kalahandi district.
With a net shortfall of about 300 MW, the State load despatch centre, in its advisory to the Government, has recommended regulation of power by the distribution companies.
Indravati station was shut down on the instruction of the Kalahandi District Collector, sources in Gridco said.
Power generation from Indravati requires release of water from the reservoir to the power channel, which will ultimately fall in Hati river, which was flowing above the danger level inundating low-lying areas.
Fearing more damage, the district administration asked the OHPC to shut down the hydel power station on Thursday.
Similarly, the Upper Kolab hydel power station in Koraput district, with a generating capacity of 320 MW, was shut down on Thursday for similar reason.
The closure of the two hydro power stations resulted in a net shortfall of about 450 MW, official sources said.
The Upper Kolab hydel power station resumed power generation on Friday after improvement in weather condition.
Resumption of power generation from Indravati station will take a day or two depending on the rainfall in the upper and lower catchments of Indravati river.
Even as the power demand has come down by 300 MW due to the sudden fall in temperature, the State is experiencing a net shortfall of about 300 MW due to closure of Indravati station. While average day demand of the State has come down from 2,700 MW to 2,500 MW, the evening peak demand was about 3,100 MW as against 3,400 MW before the onset of monsoon.
Gridco is getting about 700 MW of hydel power as against 1,500 MW during peak hours from 7 pm to 10 pm. Sources in Gridco said there will be no need for power regulation as it is drawing more power than the schedule from the Eastern Grid due to better frequency in the grid line.