Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission's order rejecting the state power utility Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd request to increase load-shedding is likely to affect industry in the state adversely.
Industrial units might have to face two days of power cut instead of one.
The order, passed by the power regulator on Monday observes, "MSEDCL appears to want to favour industrial consumers by not imposing a second staggering day of load shedding, at the expense of the remaining consumers in the state, which is not equitable. When the demand-supply gap in the state has reached such crisis proportions, all categories and regions have to contribute their bit towards sharing the burden."
The MSEDCL had moved the application asking for more power cuts on the grounds that the gap between demand and supply has reached 6,500-7,000 Mw.
The power regulator held a hearing on the MSEDCL's application on April 16 and passed an order on Monday which rejects MSEDCL's application.
The commission has asked the state discom to maintain load shedding to the levels it approved on its order on February 20.
As per MERC's earlier order, load shedding of 4.5 hours to 6 hours has been approved in large cities and industrial areas like Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Pune among other places.
In smaller towns, between 6 hours and 8 hours, and in rural areas between 14 hours and 15 hours.
The MERC's order is a virtual indictment of the state-owned power companies. The power regulator observes, There is no justification to modify the load shedding protocol that has been approved by the commission, given the widely fluctuating claims and data of MSEDCL, Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (Mahatransco) and state load dispatch centre on the figures of increased burden on state grid due to a rise in demand and emergency power cuts which had to be taken to ensure, there is no grid failure.
The order also says, MSEDCL had completely mismanaged the demand and supply situation in the state. It seems MSEDCL does not seem to have learnt from this experience.
MSEDCL floated tenders for procuring power for April on April 3 and the tenders are to be opened on April 17, which is irresponsible behaviour, as MSEDCL knew well in advance that the power purchase tie ups are valid only till March 31.
MahaGenco's performance is much below par, as indicated by the wide fluctuations in the on-line capacity, and frequent breakdowns resulting in a loss of generation, leading to an increase in the demand-supply gap.
Moreover, New Paras and New Parli projects have been delayed for over 9 months till date, and it is even now not clear when the projects will generate up to full capacity.
Considering the unreliability of MSPGCL generation, and the uncertainty in RGPPL and new projects, it becomes even more essential for MSEDCL to plan for contingencies and enter into contracts for higher quantities for power purchase, which in any case would be useful to mitigate the load shedding in the state.
However, despite repeated attempts, no senior official either from the MSEDCL or state government's energy ministry was available for comment.
