CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDCL) will go for short-term power purchase agreements for up to 3,000 megawatts (MW) in October as power demand is continuing to peak around 20,000 megawatts (MW), making uninterrupted and reliable power supply a big task. The quantum is more than what TNPDCL purchased during peak summer this year, as the discom had signed agreements only for 2,400 MW during April for the rates ranging from Rs 6.5 to Rs 12 per unit.The power utility has floated a tender to procure power from private generators within and outside the State till Oct 31 from next week to meet the surge in power demand in the evening and midnight hours. Once signed via the union govt’s DEEP portal, the private generators will start supplying power from Oct 12. From 6 pm to midnight, TNPDCL will procure 3,000MW to meet the night peak, while the procurement will be 1,500 MW from midnight to 2 am. The rates will be known after the agreements are signed. TNPDCL is already purchasing up to 3,000 MW through short-term and swap arrangements and procure equally from exchanges to meet the peak power demand.“The power requirement has been very high since last month due to extended summer conditions. Wind power generation has considerably come down and contribution from central govt plants has also reduced, making the power purchase inevitable. If the northeast monsoon sets in by Oct 20, the power demand is likely to subside after which we will have to shut down our own thermal plants for overhauling as part of the preparation for next summer. If the northeast monsoon is also poor, we may have to repeat power purchases for November too,” said a senior TNPDCL official.However, the official pointed out that the shortage is only during evening hours as electricity is available in surplus during the day due to good solar power generation. Electricity and law minister CTR Nirmal Kumar blamed the reduced power supply from central generating stations to justify the short-term power purchase agreements.On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu’s power consumption was 432.6 million units (Mu), which is almost equal to last year’s maximum power consumption in a day, while the peak demand was 19,921 MW. Of the 432.6 MU, 80 MU was supplied by TNPDCL’s thermal plants, 83.4 Mu was from central power stations. About 38.5 Mu was purchased through short-term agreements, while 36.5 Mu was purchased from power exchanges.
