Faced with a peak power deficit of 300-350 MW, the State Government has finalised a move to procure power from 24 private captive generation companies in the State.
The Gridco has sought the nod of power regulator Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) to buy power from captive generating plants (CGPs).
“We have filed a petition with the OERC seeking its approval to buy power from the CGPs. Earlier, we had also written to the CGPs for procuring power,” said Gridco Director (Commercial) PK Pradhan.
According to sources, the Gridco wants to buy power from CGPs at a price of Rs2.75 per unit. However, the companies are insisting on supplying power at a rate of Rs3.20 per unit or higher. If the Gridco buys power at Rs3.20 or higher per unit, it could burden the Gridco’s finances by around Rs400 crore.
The Government would in all probability pass on the increased power cost to consumers, sources said.
The Government has decided to procure power from 24 companies, including the Jindal Steel and Power limited (JSPl), Navbharat Power limited and Aditya Alumina.
Meanwhile, the Congress has decided to launch a State-wide agitation protesting ‘manmade’ power shortage.
“Whether the Government will procure power or not is not an issue. But the Government should provide quality power to consumers. To protest the power shortage and cuts, the Congress will launch a ‘Bijuli Satyagraha’ after Dussehra,” said PCC chief spokesperson Ganeswar Behera.