CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is set to receive an additional 500 MW of electricity from the union government from January to May to help the state meet its power demand. The move is aimed at ensuing uninterrupted power supply during the summer months, when electricity consumption usually touches record levels. Officials said advance planning was already under way to avoid power shortages.
A senior TNPDCL official told TNIE that the discom had sought an additional 2,000 MW from the centre for the summer season. “Of this, the state has already started receiving 400 MW from November. We expect the remaining allocation in the coming months,” the official said. Power demand has been unusually high this year, the official noted. “During the northeast monsoon, average demand is usually below 15,000 MW. This year, owing to higher temperatures and the impact of climate change, demand has increased abnormally. This has pushed us to procure more power from the centre,” he said.
As per the centre’s Resource Adequacy Plan, Tamil Nadu’s peak power demand could cross 22,000 MW during the next summer. While the state has adequate generation capacity, managing peak demand during morning and evening hours continues to be a challenge, the official added.
Another official said central allocations played a crucial role in meeting recent demand spikes. “Until last week, TNPDCL received 6,998 MW from central generating stations when consumption was 104.641 MU. This accounted for nearly 30% of the state’s total electricity requirement,” the official noted. Power procurement from central sources is also cost-effective, he added.
“During summer, power exchange rates can touch Rs 20 per unit. Power from central generating stations or through the Solar Energy Corporation of India can be procured at Rs 5 to Rs 7 per unit. This strengthens our case for seeking higher allocations from the centre,” the official said.