Power cuts continue for domestic sectors

HYDERABAD: Even after the Telangana employees which included Singareni and APCPDCL workers recently called off their strike, there is not much improvement in power generation and scheduled power cuts to domestic, industry and other sectors are still continuing. At present, the power demand is around 253 million units per day and the Discoms are able to meet around 233 MU resulting in a shortfall of about 20 MU.The energy officials are going to review the power situation in another two to three days and are expected to lift some of the power cuts.Already, steps have been taken to reduce scheduled power cuts to domestic sector.The three-day holiday to industries is still on but power supply restrictions during peak hours (6 p.m to 10.30 p.m) has been removed.Following instructions from the chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, the APTransco officials have been able to restore seven hours power supply to the agriculture sector, due to slight improvement in power situation.It may be recalled the power supply position which was comfortable till September 13 (launch of Sakala Janula Samme) later worsened due to steep fall in thermal generation from APGenco and NTPC, due to the strike by Singareni miners.Besides, the situation further worsened due to no inflows and fall in hydel generation at Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar.The department has also decided to stop hydel generation at Srisailam from November 2011 to January 2012, to preserve water for power requirement during Rabi.On the other hand, there was steep increase in power demand due to continuous dry spells across the state.The average demand upto October 24 (the day strike was called off) stood at 268 MU as against 219 MU per day during same period last year. The power shortfall which was zero on the day of strike launch has increased upto 30 MU per day due to increase in power demand and fall in generation.It further increased to 40 MU on October 9 and managed by imposing power cuts to domestic sector during day, one hour supply restriction to agriculture and three-day power holiday to industries. The average load relief during October stood at 38 MU per day.