Meghalaya purchases “costly power” from open market to avoid power cuts

Shillong: The cash-starved Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) on Wednesday was forced to purchase “costly power” from the open market to avoid load shedding in the wake of public criticism over the frequent loadshedding in the State.
Following the power purchase, the MeECL has lifted the loashedding from Thursday.
The Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited (MeGPCL) has fallen to the lowest, an average of 35-40 MW for want of water due to due to the lean season as most of its hydel projects are dependent on rainfall.
“Our internal Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited generation has fallen to the lowest, average of 35-40 MW for want of water. But because of extreme crisis we ramped up the average generation to 87.54 MW,” MeCL Chairman Cum Managing Director, Arunkumar Kembhavi said.
Coupled with less power generation, the shutdown of two units of ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC) Palatana from April 7 to 14, one of the sources the corporation gets the power, the power deficit in Meghalaya has further widened.
“The power deficit has widened to 3.35 Million Unit (MU) out of the daily average demand of 6.1 MU. We ramped up the average generation to 87.54 MW, at 7 am on April 6. We even touched 188.59 MW which is dangerous and unsustainable,” Kembhavi said.
The MeECL Chief said that the corporation “managed to arrange costly power from the energy market” considering the board and college examination season besides the ensuing Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections in Garo Hills.
WIth the power purchase there would be no load shedding from Thursday.
On Tuesday night, the MeECL announced another round of load shedding for a period of eight hours, barring Garo Hills region. In the State Capital there was load shedding from 3 pm to 5 pm today.
“With ongoing Assembly elections across India and peak summer in Northern and Southern India, the energy rates in exchange markets are high,” Khembavi said, adding that the energy rate has touched Rs 6 per unit and therefore it makes it “unviable” to purchase electricity on a real time basis.