State power distribution company—Jharkhand Bijli Vitaran Nigam limited—has decided to ask for assured power supply from energy producers, especially operating in the public sector to handle erratic electricity supply situation it has to be live with currently.
The step would introduce ‘firm power supply’ regime which would presumably end the vicious cycle continuing.
It is learnt that one such agreement for 600 MW of energy is already on the table with the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and another on similar lines is in the offing involving Tenughat Vidyut Nigam limited (TVNl), run as State Government undertaking.
“We are witnessing sudden snaps in power supply from our suppliers. At present the State is up against a similar situation when supply from TVNl and Adhunik got stopped due to some technical issues. To deal with such situation in future the JBVNl has decided to go for firm power supply agreement which would give assured and guaranteed energy to the discom. We in return would guarantee them with dated payment,” JBVNl Managing Director Rahul Purwar told The Pioneer.
The step in a way, Purwar thinks, would stop the vicious cycle from continuing that is caused due to unscheduled supply blockade, resulting into delayed and piling up payments to the generators and finally their non-payment to coal companies risking the fuel supply to them.
In last couple of days, various parts of the State and the capital have to live with acute power shortage with unscheduled and prolonged power cuts. The problem has intensified woes of the citizen with boiling mercury.
“It is very difficult and costly to arrange power from other sources when supply from agreed sources gets stopped all of a sudden. The new agreement with DVC is already in place and we would be getting 600 MW of ‘firm’ power from May.
Also, they have been told to look if the supply under this mechanism can be raised further. Similar pact with TVNl is also coming. We have sent a proposal for this to TVNl’s management that would get back to us within a week time with the PPA to be signed. This can be a win-win for all of us involved,” added the official.
As per records, the State requires 2200 MW of power in a pick day while normal demand ranges between 1800 to 1900 MW per day. Recently shortfall of around 300 MW has been caused due to the twin issues.
“Adhunik issue is technical one as its boilers got shut down due to snag. It will take two more days to recover. Till then the demand would be met with the power available in market from different sources,” said an official in the Energy Department.