Summary:
“When power is available with NTPC units at a lower cost, what is the need for purchasing power from private companies. Tangedco officials attributed the increase in power purchase rate to high demand for power from various states.In August last year, the Central Electricity Authority, in its annual load generation balance report, had forecast that Tangedco would face power deficit this fiscal. This year, the discom site has not put out names of companies from whom power is likely to be purchased.Opposition parties have criticised the discom for purchasing power from private companies. The forecast was based only on the data sent by Tangedco to CEA.Following this, Tangedco received nod from Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission to purchase power between February and May as the power demand during these months would increase.“Every year, we purchase power from private power companies as well as NTPC through short-term MoUs to balance the deficit. “The short-term purchase of power is likely to cost Rs 1,800-Rs 2,000 crore additionally to the discom,” said the official.“Even this year, the tariff per unit is only Rs 4.50 per unit, which is comparable to our own cost of generation in Tangedco thermal units..