Maharashtra turns net power seller as rain god smiles

Maharashtra, a desperate buyer of 400 mega watts (Mw) until last week, has become a net seller of equivalent capacity, after the rain god smiled on the state. Rainfall in the last four days has led to zero load shedding.

Mahagenco, the state-run power generation company, had to reduce its generation capacity by 2,000 Mw due to fall in demand. On the other hand, MahaVitaran, engaged in power distribution, has reduced drawal by 1,000 Mw from the central sector and independent power producers. Till last week, the state was reeling under a daily load shedding of over 5,000 Mw. The state’s demand has been reduced to 10,241 Mw, against the 16,500 Mw prevailing till last week. The state has an online generation capacity of 12,557 Mw, against the demand of 10,241 MW.

“As on Friday, the thermal generation is of the order of 3,162 Mw, 620 Mw from the gas-based project situated at Uran and 45 Mw from hydro against the total generation capacity of 1,900 Mw. Besides, the state is drawing 961 Mw, against the total generation of 1,560 Mw from Dabhol power project. The state is also drawing 3,323 Mw, against the allocation of 3,700 Mw, from the central sector, comprising NTPC and Nuclear Power Corporation. This is due to fall in demand and the excess availability of power,” a top MahaVitaran official, who did not want to be named, told.

The official, however, said MahaGenco’s Chandrapur unit was generating 185 Mw, against the total capacity of 2,000 Mw. This was because of lack of availability of adequate water, he added. The unit is expected to run at its full capacity by July-end. According to the official, it’s quite evident that the load has fallen not due to reduction in demand from the agriculture consumers, but essentially due to less use of air conditioners across the state. “Dabhol has given a big relief as MahaVitaran was drawing 1,500 Mw till last week,” MahaVitaran’s Managing Director Ajoy Mehta said.