Flood bout in July fails to help hydel generation in Telangana

HYDERABAD

The relief expected for the power distribution utilities in Telangana from the purchase of energy from the Indian Energy Exchange on daily basis, along with the energy purchases tied up through power purchase agreements, was short lived in July with the bout of significant flood lasting for barely two weeks.

Impact of weather changes on farming community and energy demand

Deficient rainfall within the State coupled with below anticipated level flood into major reservoirs due to the impact of El Nino conditions has not only made life challenging for the farming community and the prospects of first crop (Kharif) uncertain, but burdened the power utilities with high load on the transmission system and led to demand for energy at unexpected level for the season.

Paddy and cotton constitute 83% of 107 acres

Despite 15 of the 32 rural districts witnessing deficient rainfall in the range of -21% to -47% of the normal as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the extent of sowing/transplantation of Kharif crops has been over 107.17 lakh acres with cotton (47.72 lakh acres) and paddy (41.54 lakh acres) covering a lion’s share. Sugarcane, blackgram and jowar are being raised in over one-lakh acres, said office-holders of the Agriculture Department.

Peak load

Consequently, the stress on power utilities has been increasing despite the revival of monsoon rains for a couple of weeks. However, the return of dry spell in numerous parts of the State is increasing the energy demand along with high load on the transmission system. While it is over 15,000-17,000 MW for 12 out of 15 days in August.

Energy demand rises, hydel generation nominal

Similarly, the demand for energy from all categories of consumers, mostly from the agriculture sector for drawing groundwater to irrigate the crops, has also been on the rise, according to TG-Genco authorities, the peak load was over 15,000-16,000 megawatt for 10 days in July. However, the contribution of hydel generation. It would generally be significant during the July-September period, has been nominal this year.

“Despite scanty rainfall in the State, we were expecting good flood from the upstream States to enable ample hydel generation. But, the sizeable flood lasted only for about a fortnight and only 86 million units of energy was feasible in July against the total energy consumption of 8,238 MU”, a Genco official said preferring not to be quoted. In the first 15 days of August, contribution of hydel was 199 MU out of total consumption of 4,359 MU.

With over 300 tmc ft flood cushion in major reservoirs serving the State’s needs, the prospects of irrigation under projects appears to be uncertain and only a heavy stint of inflows could provide relief to farmers as well as power utilities.