Tangedco gets TNERC nod to buy power in summer

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission has given its nod to Tangedco’s plan to procure to 500 mw to meet evening peak power demand and 350 mw of round the clock power for the period between February and May next year.

In its order, the commission has directed the Tangedco to float a tender for the short term power purchase through e-bidding portal (DEEP) and it should not deviate from the Government of India guidelines prescribed for procurement of the power.

Tangedco, in its petition to the TNERC, anticipated a deficit of 350 mw of round the clock power and 500 mw of peak power from 6 pm to 11 pm between February 1 and May 15 next year citing various reasons.

As per the power position assessment made by the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation, the anticipated evening peak demand varies from 14,100 mw in January to 15,800 mw in April and it comes down to 15,500 mw in May. The sustained availability also varies from 13,130 mw in January to 14,600 in May. The deficit was highest in February at 1,970 mw and lowest in May at 900 mw.
Citing the reasons for power procurement, Tangedco said, “The present hydro storage is about 42 per cent less than last year’s storage. Around 810 mw (one 600 mw unit and one 210 mw unit) from thermal stations has been considered as infirm considering likely simultaneous outages.”

It also noted that wind generation would be meagre during January to March and expected to pick up only after April 2017. “The second unit of 1000 MW Kudankulam Nuclear Power Station and 3 x 800 MW Kudgi Super Thermal Power Plant Stage-I are getting delayed. Moreover, Kudankulam Unit 1 is planned for overhaul for 60 days from end of December 2016 and it may be expected only after February 2017,” it said.

Out of contracted capacity of 3,330 MW under long term, there was short supply of about 350 MW from KSK Mahanadi and Jindal during the contract year 2016-17, it said.