Future seems tense as the ordeal of power cuts this summer could haunt the State in a much bigger way in 2016 summer, if the prediction by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is any indication. The CEA in its May 2015 report has predicted around 4 per cent energy deficit (not peak) for Odisha as early as by March 2016.
Notwithstanding the claims by the State Energy Department of having a surplus power, the CEA report has apparently pin-pricked the surplus bubbles by labelling Odisha as an energy deficit State in 2014-15. The actual power supply position in the State in 2014-15 reveals that Odisha has witnessed around 430 Million Unit energy deficit and a peak deficit of 28 MW.
Significantly, Odisha’s power play in eastern region as a whole looks quite bleak as both West Bengal and Jharkhand have recorded a deficit (energy and peak) less than half of what Odisha has recorded up to March 2015. Even in April 2015, data with Gridco reveals Odisha has recorded an energy deficit of 26 MU and a peak deficit of 22 MW that get further aggravated in May leading to power cuts across the State, notwithstanding denial by the Energy Department. Significantly, Odisha is next to Bihar in deficit quantum in the entire eastern region during April – May 2015.
According to Indian Steel Association Secretary Sanak Mishra, Odisha recording more energy and peak deficit than West Bengal and Jharkhand is not an enthusiastic scenario given that Bengal in the first four months of 2015 has received investment commitments totalling Rs15, 257 crore – nearly 7 times of that Odisha received.
Interestingly, Gridco has attributed this, what it calls a moderate peak and energy deficit, to high distribution loss. Incidentally, both WB and Jharkhand have Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses amounting to less than half of Odisha’s around 44 per cent T&D loss in 2011-12 and around 33 per cent in 2014-15.
Data with Gridco further reveals that power generation in Odisha has been higher at over 42,000 -45,000 MU but the availability falls to around 27,000 MU primarily due to heavy loss during distribution stage. Haphazard growths of sub-transmission and distribution system with the short-term objective of power supply to newer areas along with large-scale rural electrification through long 11kv and lT lines have further accentuated the high technical distribution losses in Odisha, rued a senior Gridco official.
Coming to CEA 2015 report, it observed if monsoon would remain normal then with the current installed capacity (as on 31st May 2015) totalling 9,036 MW, including 2,167 MW hydro power, would generate around 45,000 MU energy. The total energy demand of the State for 2015-16 would be at around 26,985 MU and availability after deducting distribution losses would be around 28, 562 MU showing 1,667 MU surplus. Still, the State would record deficit energy scenario from December 2015 that would grow to around 4 per cent by March 2016, it revealed. However, there is every possibility of the deficit accentuating further as CEA had predicted a surplus energy for Odisha in 2014-15 but actual scenario recorded around 2 per cent deficit.