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Over a crore of power consumers in West Bengal did not expect it. Barring the usual snags in the distribution system, the State has not experienced the customary load-shedding so far this summer.
“Thanks to peak Boro season (farming season between rabi and kharif) demand for electricity, April augurs the worst mismatch in demand and availability scenario in West Bengal, but this year it is different,” says a relieved official in the State power department.
Surplus power
Unlike the previous years when the daily power deficits were running into hundreds of megawatts, the State power department is now suffering the problem of plenty.
“There is surplus power this season, so much so that many of our plants are not run in full capacity due to lack of demand load,” he said.
The 900 MW Purulia pump storage project which plays the key role in meeting the huge surge in peak-demand in West Bengal was not run in full capacity even for a day so far.
What is more, the State officials are exploring the possibility of making money through spot sales in energy exchanges.
Officials at the privately run CESC Ltd, distributing power in the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah, are equally relaxed. “There is no deficit this year so far,” a CESC official told Business Line.
Planning pays
According to the State officials while part of the credit of this improved scenario goes to a relatively ‘cool' summer, a Rs. 200 crore maintenance initiative rolled out by the power department in the state generation utility (West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd ) in the last winter, has also contributed to the availability.
“The generation of WBPDCL was extremely erratic last year and ranged between 1600-2200 on an average. On the contrary the state run company is now consistently generating at over 3000 mw,” the state official said.
The availability is scheduled to improve further, if the new 250 mw unit at WBPDCL's Santhandih power station comes on stream in May. The China made unit at Durgapur Projects Ltd is also expected to be brought back into operation before June.
What is more important, the contribution of hydro-electric power will increase from the existing 150 mw on an average to well above 700 mw with the onset of the rainy season latest by June.
And, if the rains come as early this year, as is anticipated by the met department electricity will rain.
“We have already lined up the next phase of the capital maintenance programme for the thermal power plants to be taken up during the rainy season,” the official said.
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