KSEBOA - KSEB Officers' Association

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India has experienced 11% deficit in the supply of electricity in the 11 months to February 2008, according to Central Electricity Authority data. As per the apex power sector planning body, the power utilities generated 628,016 million units of electricity during April-February 2008-09 against requirement of 705,724 million units.

The western region, including Maharashtra and Gujarat, experienced 16.2% shortfall in the supply of electricity at 194,428 million units against the 232,022 million units of power required. Notably, the requirement of electricity is based on demand from already electrified areas, and there is no mention of un-electrified places.

Moreover, experts also say there is a latent requirement of power from already electrified buildings as well --- whereby the buildings would want to consume more power if it were available --- which is not taken into account while counting the requirement of power.
In February alone as well, the western region has been the biggest loser with 17.4% energy deficit at 17,095 million units against the requirement of 20,685 million units.

The peak generation of electricity in the country stood at 94,634 mw during the 11 months to February fell 13.8% short of the peak demand of 109,809 mw.

The north-eastern region fell short by a quarter of the peak demand and achieved peak generation of 1,358 mw of electricity against 1,820 mw required.The western region achieved 20.5% less peak generation at 29,603 mw compared with the peak demand of 37,240 mw.

Maharashtra suffered from about 26% less peak generation at 13,375 mw generated against a peak demand of 18,049 megawatt of energy in the state during the 11 months to February.The country's power plants are running below capacity mainly due to shortage of fuel.

Many of the coal-based power plants are running with buffer stocks of coal not enough to last even a day, while the others are running with less than four days' or seven days' inventories, against the norm to keep 15 days' worth of coal stock. State-run monopoly supplier Coal India Ltd is struggling to meet with the rising demand from the utilities, while the country is also falling short of its import targets.


Source - Business standard