Are power-cuts inevitable in Karnataka ?
Recent news paper reports have referred to the imminent power-cuts in the state during forthcoming summer. This is not the first time that the state had to face such a situation, and hence it is necessary to analyse the situation rationally.
During the period April 05 – March 06 the officially recorded annual energy shortage was less than 1% of the total annual requirement. This year the monsoon was reported to be better than that during last year, and all our hydro reservoirs were supposed to have been full. What it should mean is that the energy availability for the state for the current energy period from let us say Sept. 2006 (when rains stopped) till July 2007 (when the next monsoon would have set in) should be more than that during the corresponding period of the previous year. So, one may like to ask the question what happened suddenly? Since the ESCOMs have no control on the supply side of the Demand and Supply Equation, let us look at the demand side issues.
Can the ESCOMs say that everything that is possible on the Demand Side Management (DSM) has been done? There is considerable scope for reducing the actual demand in the state without resorting to power-cuts or affecting the economic activities. Some of the short term measures which could help us not only to tide over the situation during the forthcoming summer months, but also provide long term benefits are:
a) Even if we can ensure 50% of the incandescent lamps in the state to be replaced by CFL lamps by March 2007, we may be able to reduce the state’s peak demand by about 300 MW, and save energy by about 50 to 60 MU per month.
b) Even if 50% of the state's AEH installations can switch over to solar water heating, it can reduce the energy requirement by about 70 – 80 MU per month.
c) Even if 25% of IP sets in the state are refurbished by providing good quality suction/delivery pipes and correct choice and alignment of pumps, an estimated 50 - 60 MU of energy per month can be saved.
d) Operate the generating stations with heightened attention such that none of them develop problem during theses months, and especially during the morning and evening peak hours.
e) Substantial power generating capacity of the captive power plants in the state are understood to be idle for want of suitable tariff mechanism.
f) Apply severe restriction on decorative lighting in commercial installations in cities and towns for the months March to June. This measure will reduce the peak hour demand by a considerable margin, and also give substantial monthly energy savings.
These measures will not only eliminate the need for power cuts or buying of energy from other states at huge costs, but they will also improve the voltage at all points of the grid, and also will provide a much better quality electricity to our farmers. Investment in these measures will be less than that required to buy electricity from neighboring states, and will result in perpetual benefits to the state like reduced T&D losses, improved quality of electricity, and economic and social welfare of the state.
Widespread adoption of rain water harvesting from the coming rainy season alone has the potential to save us huge energy consumed in IP sets.
But do we have the necessary political will?
During the period April 05 – March 06 the officially recorded annual energy shortage was less than 1% of the total annual requirement. This year the monsoon was reported to be better than that during last year, and all our hydro reservoirs were supposed to have been full. What it should mean is that the energy availability for the state for the current energy period from let us say Sept. 2006 (when rains stopped) till July 2007 (when the next monsoon would have set in) should be more than that during the corresponding period of the previous year. So, one may like to ask the question what happened suddenly? Since the ESCOMs have no control on the supply side of the Demand and Supply Equation, let us look at the demand side issues.
Can the ESCOMs say that everything that is possible on the Demand Side Management (DSM) has been done? There is considerable scope for reducing the actual demand in the state without resorting to power-cuts or affecting the economic activities. Some of the short term measures which could help us not only to tide over the situation during the forthcoming summer months, but also provide long term benefits are:
a) Even if we can ensure 50% of the incandescent lamps in the state to be replaced by CFL lamps by March 2007, we may be able to reduce the state’s peak demand by about 300 MW, and save energy by about 50 to 60 MU per month.
b) Even if 50% of the state's AEH installations can switch over to solar water heating, it can reduce the energy requirement by about 70 – 80 MU per month.
c) Even if 25% of IP sets in the state are refurbished by providing good quality suction/delivery pipes and correct choice and alignment of pumps, an estimated 50 - 60 MU of energy per month can be saved.
d) Operate the generating stations with heightened attention such that none of them develop problem during theses months, and especially during the morning and evening peak hours.
e) Substantial power generating capacity of the captive power plants in the state are understood to be idle for want of suitable tariff mechanism.
f) Apply severe restriction on decorative lighting in commercial installations in cities and towns for the months March to June. This measure will reduce the peak hour demand by a considerable margin, and also give substantial monthly energy savings.
These measures will not only eliminate the need for power cuts or buying of energy from other states at huge costs, but they will also improve the voltage at all points of the grid, and also will provide a much better quality electricity to our farmers. Investment in these measures will be less than that required to buy electricity from neighboring states, and will result in perpetual benefits to the state like reduced T&D losses, improved quality of electricity, and economic and social welfare of the state.
Widespread adoption of rain water harvesting from the coming rainy season alone has the potential to save us huge energy consumed in IP sets.
But do we have the necessary political will?
posted by Shankar Sharma at
11:23 PM
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