Power use in agri sector to reduce: Discoms

Hyderabad: TS power utilities have claimed that through the implementation of 24x7 power supply to farmers, consumption of electricity can be reduced as the farmers can pump water in any time of the day at their comfort. Due to this, it is expected that the farmers will judiciously pump water, only according to requirements, thereby reducing the consumption of electricity. 

The TS Electricity Regulatory Commission (TSERC) had conducted a public hearing on Monday at Hyderabad on Power Distribution Companies (Discoms) tariff proposals for 2018-19. 

During the hearing, the TS power utilities said the average growth in consumption in units with 24x7 power to farmers during July-August 2017 in Nalgonda, Medak and Siddipet circles was 33.36 per cent. The circle-wise per month consumption was projected for the year 2018-19 by applying the average growth of 33.36 per cent to the circle-wise per month average consu-mption in the year 2016-17 and by multiplying the same with the circle-wise details projected  for 2018-19 which came as 12,285 MUs of agricultural consumption. 

They said that the total projected consumption for agriculture has been reduced to 9,765 MU as the entire estimated total capacity for 2017-18 and 2018-19 is considered for projecting the consumption. 

It was said that in reality, the new connections will be released in a phas-ed manner over months. An additional sale of 941.92 MUs for lift irrigation schemes have been projected for the year 2018-19 under TS Southe-rn Power Distribution Company Ltd (SPDCL) and this will reduce the burden on agricultural pump sets to an extent. 

The TS government is actively campaigning for removal of auto starters for pump sets. This will avoid wastage of wa-ter and electricity. The benefits due to 24x7 supp-ly are flexibility of farmers to utilise power whenever the consumer wants, avoiding accidents when power supply is during night hours and judicious usage of water by farmers as they need not keep the motors switched on continuously. 

The Discoms said that they will meet the revenue gap through suitable support from the State Government after ERC conducts a scrutiny of the gap. 

The Discoms said that the tariff for Railways will be fixed on par with AP and exempt cross subsidy as it is a deemed licensee. 

The Discoms condemned the allegations that they are showing discrimination on Railways. Regarding the directive to drop segregation of loads at GMR airport, the Discoms said that the matter is subjudice as civil appeal is pending before the Supreme Court. The Discoms said that the exemption of cross subsidy and surcharge to open access consumers from solar power producers may be provided only if the State Government will reimburse the amount through additional subsidy.