Deficient monsoon boon for HP’s power sector

The increased demand for power due to the deficient rainfall coupled with shortage of coal at thermal plants is set to generate more profits for the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board, with neighbouring states signing power purchase agreements.

The increased demand for power due to the deficient rainfall coupled with shortage of coal at thermal plants is set to generate more profits for the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board, with neighbouring states signing power purchase agreements.

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The state expects to earn nearly Rs 5 crore a day from selling power to other states. Rajasthan, which faces a grim situation, has already agreed to purchase 100 megawatts of electricity at Rs 3.75 per unit and Haryana has also sought to buy power from Himachal to meet is shortfall.

“We have received requests from the Haryana and Rajasthan governments to purchase electricity. The scanty rainfall this year has proved to be a boon for the state,” SKBS Negi, principal secretary, multipurpose power projects, said.

The power sector, which was in the doldrums, received a fillip last month when it received requests for electricity supply from neighboring Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

However, the pact for selling power to West Bengal will end this month. At present, the electricity board has been selling surplus power in the open market to different states. In the wake of the acute power shortage in Punjab and Haryana, Delhi has been banking on Himachal’s huge supply of hydroelectric power.

“The power department is hopeful to get a request for power supply from Uttar Pradesh too,” said Negi.

However, power generation in Himachal is likely to decline next month due to frozen glaciers, among other factors.