By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 14 Nov: Uttarakhand faces a threat of a power crisis sooner than expected, with UJVNL already struggling to maintain electricity generation as temperatures continue to plummet, in the hills, where most of the hydropower projects are located. The sharp fall in temperature across the state has begun to affect production, with several units at the Obra L Power Station generating significantly below their installed capacity and putting the state’s energy management under strain. For the first time, UJVNL is preparing to procure nearly five per cent additional power from the market. The officials conceded that emergency repair work is underway across all the affected units to restore normal output, even as rising demand driven by the cold weather is making uninterrupted supply increasingly challenging.
According to a Power Department report, a combination of technical faults and weather-induced weakening of operational processes is preventing machinery from running at full capacity and it has directly affected the production levels. Under normal conditions, power generation remains steady, but this week it has dropped by 15 to 20 per cent.
While, this fall in output is severely affecting the supply system, the power demand is already high due to winter onset. With the use of geysers, heaters and other electrical appliances rising sharply, demand has surged by nearly 20 per cent in recent days. The mismatch between demand and production has forced the State Load Despatch Centre to resort to frequent load management, resulting in power cuts longer than scheduled in several districts.
The department maintains that the situation is temporary. However, officials acknowledge that power demand will continue to rise as the cold intensifies. If production does not stabilise, Uttarakhand may have to purchase even more power from the market, substantially increasing the financial burden on UPCL and UJVNL, as market-procured electricity is far costlier than internal generation. Experts warn that if such conditions persist, consumers may eventually feel the impact through a future tariff hike.
Energy Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram observed that the primary cause of reduced output is technical disruption caused by the cold. He also shared that sudden technical issues in several units have affected production but added that the repair and maintenance work is being carried out on a priority basis. He also shared that procurement of electricity from alternative sources will ensure supply continuity and expressed hope that the situation would normalise within the next few days. The department has also prepared a priority list to prevent supply interruptions in key districts, with efforts underway to minimise cuts on industrial feeders and to ensure domestic consumers receive electricity for the scheduled duration.
It may be recalled that during the winters, the electricity demand in Uttarakhand is expected to go up to 5.5 crore units. At present, the demand stands at around 4 crore units, leaving a deficit of nearly 20 lakh units. On the other hand, UJVNL’s production has dropped to approximately 90 lakh units, compared to more than 2 crore units before the onset of winter. It may also be reminded here that the state is additionally receiving 1.3 crore units from the Central Pool.
Speaking at the 6th International Science and Technology Festival in Dehradun today, Sundaram claimed that Uttarakhand is the first state in the country to introduce a Geothermal Energy Policy, which is being used by the Central Government as a model for future initiatives. He emphasised that the state aims to promote green energy sources that safeguard the environment and said more work is underway in this direction.
