<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[Source: Load Despatch Centre
Despite every asset being used optimally there is an all-round power shortage this year — peak and off-peak, officials say. The country’s western region had a power shortage of 5,991 mw on 4 May (See ‘Rising Needs’).
Over the years, power crisis during the initial summer months has become a regular feature. However, the crisis this year, which saw record consumption of 2,150 million units on 30 April, has been different on three counts. First, temperatures shot up earlier than expected, which increased demand that could not be met especially as hydel generation is still to pick up. Second, with general elections underway, states are not willing to resort to load shedding and would rather overdraw and pay penal charges. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab have been warned on overdrawal. Third, officials say, unlike previous years, this year’s high levels of shortages are happening even when there have been very few breakdowns of power plants.
Making the issue more serious is the fact that close to 35 per cent of all coal-based power stations has less than a week’s stock of coal. In some, it is less than four days.
(Businessworld Issue dated 12-18 May 2009)