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With the gap between demand and supply widening, the State has begun facing power cuts again.
The energy demand has shot up to over 300 million units and the generation capacity is able to provide about 235 mu a day. It is expected that the gap will widen further.
In spite of additional purchases, the State is unable to bridge the gap.
This has meant power cuts and staggered supply with effect from March 1, ranging from two hours in Hyderabad and going up to several hours in rural areas.
Meanwhile, there have been instances of farmers cordoning off power substations against irregular power supply, impacting the standing crop. The farm sector depends on pump sets to draw groundwater. This increases the demand significantly during both kharif and rabi crop seasons.
The industrial consumers have been facing severe power cuts since September 2011, and the situation continues to remain bad.
Pump sets
Hyderabad, Tirupati, Vizag and Warangal now face two hours in two spells, district headquarters and corporations (four hours in two spells) and towns and municipalities, six hours in two spells.
According to sources, mandal headquarters will have power cuts of up to eight hours in two spells and for those living in rural areas the electricity supply will be available during 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. And during the day, power supply will be provided along with supply to agricultural pump sets.
The State is projected to see significant spike in power demand over the next two months.
The power generation has witnessed steep fall due to shortage of natural gas supply for power plants and low hydel power generation due to poor water storage in reservoirs.
> rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in
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