Power deficit grows in state despite rains

HYDERABAD: Despite heavy rains and high power generation, Andhra Pradesh is falling short of 15-20 million units of power (mu) every day.Even after two months of heavy monsoon in the state, distribution companies are being forced to purchase additional power from other states which is unheard of during this season.Over the past few days, power consumption has been hovering around 230- 240 mu per day as against the power generation of about 220 mu.As a result, APTransco is forced to obtain 15 mu to 20 mu per day either as loan from northern states or purchase by spending about Rs 4.50 to Rs 5 per unit to meet the needs of domestic, agricultural and industrial consumers.“About five million units is being taken as loan from the northern states everyday and this should be compensated at a later period this year.However, we have to purchase at least 10 mu to 15 mu per day based on the requirement,” said AP Transco officials.The power consumption increases by about six to eight per cent every year but it has jumped up by nearly 10 per cent this year compared to the previous one.As on Wednesday, power consumption was recorded at 230 mu as against 208 mu on the same day the previous year.The government has obtained about 15 mu of which 5 mu have been compensated to the northern states.The remaining has been used to meet the power needs in the state.According to experts, power purchases during the monsoon is an unprecedented phenomenon as power purchases are normally made only in summer.They attribute it to the changing lifestyles of domestic consumers, increasing power usage in industrial production and the increase in agricultural pump sets by about 50,000 during this year.