Industries in Maharashtra to get some relief from power cuts

MUMBAI: It’s early days, but the energy scenario in Maharashtra is looking up. Enthused by the projection of the RGPPL plant attaining full capacity by March 2010, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company or Maha Discom has proposed to reduce by 50% the planned power cut for the industrial units, a senior Maha Discom official told ET. A proposal submitted by Maha Discom to Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) moots an eight-hour staggering day in a week for the industrial consumers of the state power utility.

Currently, industrial units across the state are subjected to a 16-hour power cut in a week. The staggered supply is applicable to all industrial units across the state except those engaged in continuous production processes and units supplied power by the express feeder. But, the units in continuous production processes and express feeder users also have to pay more than the other industrial consumers.

Industrial units in Maharashtra normally work three shifts of 8-hour each and power cut for continuous 16 hours has forced an off-day in a week. “If the staggered supply is reduced by 8 hours, industries will work one shift more, which will not only lead to an increase in the industrial output but also send out a positive message to investors,” said an energy ministry official.

The significance of 50% reduction proposed by Maha Discom could be measured from the fact that industrial units were subjected to a 48-hour power cut in a week in 2007. “Though we managed to gradually reduce this to 16-hours in two years, the planned power cut for the industry does make a bad advertisement for Maharashtra,” said the official.

Maha Discom officials are confident that the MERC would provide this much-needed relief to the industrial units since the state utility had increased the supply since 2007. Plus, Maha Discom is banking heavily on the Ratnagiri Gas and Power Project (RGPPL).

“Maha Genco has expanded capacity by 1,100 mw in the past couple years. Dabhol plant of RGPPL started generating additional 700 mw in 2009 and is expected to generate another 350 mw in a few days. Also, the state has got an increased allocation of 459 mw from the central government power projects,” said the official. He, however, added that the capacity expansion projects carried out by Maha Genco had helped Maha Discom to cut down load-shedding hours for the residential and agriculture consumers.