CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) is expected to see break-even in the coming financial year, after 15 years. According to a policy note tabled in the Assembly by Electricity Minister P Thangamani, cost savings of the State discom has been attributed to reduction in the gap between Aggregate Rate of Realisation (ARR) and Aggregate Cost of Supply (ACS), efficient coal management and discontinuation of procurement of costly power based on Naptha and Low Sulphur Heavy Stock (LSHS). However, he said this was in keeping with the financial debt of the discom.
The note said TANGEDCO’s losses have been slashed from over Rs 13,000 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 3,783 crore in 2016-17. Further, a saving of approximately Rs 400 crore was achieved from coal management and import substitution despite additional expenditure of Rs 615 crore due to clean energy cess and increase in railway tariff in 2016-17, the note added.
Citing the Central Electricity Authority (CEA)’s Load Generation Balance Report (LGBR), he said TN would continue to be a power surplus State in the coming financial year, 2017-2018, with 8,663 Million Units and with a peak power surplus of 2,227 MW.
“In the State Distribution Utilities Annual Integrated Ratings published by the Ministry of Power, TANGEDCO’s ratings have gone up from C+ in 2014-15 to ‘B’ in 2015-16. We will make sure we get an ‘A’ rating in this financial year,” he said.
Digital sub-station in Kovai
In a first for the State, a 230/11 KV digital substation is to be set up in Coimbatore to improve ease of operations and maintenance. A digital substation is reportedly more compact and cost-effective.
The move, announced by Electricity Minister P Thangamani in the Assembly, would be in line with the Centre’s Smart Grid Mission and Smart City Vision.
‘Power’ full mentions
Proposal to increase installed capacity of solar power by 5,000 MW in a phased manner. Tenders have been floated for procurement of 1,500 MW under reverse bidding
Amidst charges of staff shortage in the discom, the Minister said 525 of the 1,800 technical posts and 250 of the 750 non- technical posts have been filled through a ‘transparent’ recruitment