CHENNAI: The Tamil Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDCL) has signed agreements to procure the costliest power the discom has ever purchased, to overcome the shortage between the availability and demand for the rest of the month.
While the peak power demand hovered around 17,000 MW in October last year and overall daily consumption was around 365 million units (Mu), the peak demand continues to touch 20,000 MW and while daily consumption is nearly 70 Mu more compared to last year. The fixed charges are less than Re 1, so if the demand comes down and we don’t need the power from gas-based plants, we just need to pay the fixed charges. Because they thought the power demand would dip after Oct 10, tNPDCL officials said that they were forced to float the tenders in such a short notice. TNPDCL has cited a shortage of nearly 4,000 MW due from central generating stations due to their mandatory scheduled annual maintenance as well as reduction in wind power generation as reasons necessitating the power purchase, while power demand has been unprecedented in October. Because all the tied-up suppliers are gas-based plants instead of the conventional coal plants, meanwhile, another TNPDCL official pointed out such high-cost power agreements were signed.
But the positive point here is we can pay only for the power purchased and not for the entire signed quantum. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chennai | Silver Rate in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Petrol Price in Chennai | Diesel Price in Chennai | CNG Price in Chennai | LPG Price in Chennai Stay updated with the latest Chennai news.
“However, since the weather forecast is not clear when the northeast monsoon would set in, we anticipate the unprecedented demand to continue in the coming days and floated the short-term tenders,” said the official. “The coal power is not available in the market. In coal-based plants, the fixed cost would be higher,” added the official. Download the TOI App.
The state power utility has finalised deals for 1,500 megawatts (MW) of round-the-clock power supply from Oct 12 to 31 at the rate of Rs 31.99 to Rs 34.49 per unit. The power to the quantum of 2000 MW to be procured to meet the evening surge in demand from 6pm to midnight will cost between Rs 33.37 and Rs 37 per unit. Andhra Pradesh Power Coordination Committee (APPCC) alone has finalised deals for 150MW for prices ranging from Rs 16 to Rs 20 for the same period. However, APPCC finalised the bids for October requirements on Sept 9, while TNPDCL invited bids for the period of Oct 12 to 31 just a week ago.
No other state has signed agreements at this cost through the Union power ministry’s e-bidding portal called DEEP, though many state-owned and private discoms have floated tenders and have not finalised the deal.