Northern region to suffer most in FY 2010-11

As some good news for the power sector, which usually struggles to maintain a balance between the demand and availability in energy supplies, the peak deficit in the country is expected to witness a decline during the ongoing 2010-11 fiscal. As per the annual Load Generation Balance Report (LGBR), brought out by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the important parameter is anticipated to fall, from 12.7% in FY 2009-10, to 10.6%. However, the other important benchmark for power supply, energy shortage, is expected to soar to 12.1%, from the 10.1% registered a year earlier.

 During FY 2010-11, against a total peak demand of 1,26,951 MW, a total of 1,11,533 MW of power is likely to be available in the country, resulting in a deficit of 15,418 MW. In terms of energy availability, against a total requirement of 8,76,856 million units (MU), 7,84,006 MU should be available, leaving a gap of 92,849 MU for the fiscal.

 Pertinently, the northern region of the country is likely to experience the highest peak deficit, of 17%, or 6,780 MW, during the year, followed by the southern region, with a shortage of 16.9%, or 5,774 MW and the north-eastern region with 14.2%, or approximately 278 MW shortfall. Meanwhile, the western and eastern regions are likely to face supply deficits of 13.6% and 2.3%, respectively.