CHENNAI: At a time when mercury is rising and peak hour electricity demand on uphill touching 14,452 MW on Monday, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) is running the risk of power shut-off from NTECL Vallur Thermal Power Plant due to non-payment of dues to the tune of Rs 1,156.05 crore.
Also, Kudankulam and Kalpakkam power plants are currently shut down for maintenance. This raises the question whether the power situation would worsen, if Vallur plant snaps supply.
TANGEDCO is not the only defaulter. Three other power corporations, namely Transmission Corporation of Telangana Limited (TSTRANSCO), Hubli Electricity Supply Company Limited (HESCOM) and Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited (GESCOM) have all defaulted payment of dues ranging from August, 2016 to March, 2017. The combined sum stands at a staggering Rs 1,379.77 crore.
In view of this, M Siva Rama Krishnan, Chief Executive Officer, NTECL, on Tuesday issued notices to these power corporations for regulation of power supply to an extent of 100 per cent of their respective allotment with effect from April 26, 2017 as per the signed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Regulation of Power Supply), 2010 and various allocation letters issued by Government of India (GoI).
TANGEDCO is the major beneficiary of Vallur plant receiving 1,066.95 MW out of the total 1,500 MW. The entire allocated quantum of power is likely to be regulated. The regulation notice, a copy of which is available with Express says, “The proposed regulation would be implemented from April 26. A copy of this notice has been sent to the Southern Regional Load Despatch Centre to prepare an implementation plan for regulation of power supply to TANGEDCO,” the notice reads.
When contacted, a high-ranking TANGEDCO official told Express that Tamil Nadu does not have power shortage and can easily manage without supply from Vallur. He was critical about the functioning of NTECL, which is supplying power at a higher price of Rs 4.90 per unit that has no takers. “We can get power through exchange at a lower price of Rs 3.60 per unit and wind power is available at Rs 3.20 per unit.