Karnataka Sets Up Crisis Management Group as September Power Demand Hits Record

Karnataka's Energy Department has constituted a Crisis Management Group to keep a round-the-clock watch on the State's power position, as rising demand, poor rainfall and unusually warm September weather put the supply chain under strain.

The group, which will review the situation every day, brings together the Director (Projects) of Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL), officials of Power Company of Karnataka Limited (PCKL) and representatives of all the electricity supply companies (Escoms). It has been tasked with tracking the power situation on an hour-to-hour basis so that supply remains uninterrupted in both urban and rural areas.

According to a senior official in the department, the measure is part of a wider set of steps to manage supply across the State. All Escoms have been asked to coordinate with District In-charge Ministers and Deputy Commissioners so that information about the power situation and the steps being taken reaches the ground level effectively.

The pressure on the grid is reflected in the demand figures. On September 7, the State recorded a demand of 340 million units — its highest ever for a single day in September. During the same month last year, demand stayed below 210 million units.

To guard against network failures, Executive Engineers have been posted at 220-kV substations during peak hours to monitor the system and attend to problems that could cause interruptions. The department is also keeping a continuous watch on congestion and overloading in the 220-kV transmission network, which comes under particular stress during evening peak hours.

On sourcing additional power from the open market, the official said nothing could be ruled out for the future, but for now demand is being met from available sources. These include thermal and hydel generation, waste-to-power, the Yelahanka Combined Cycle Power Plant, solar and wind energy, and central generating stations.

During reviews of demand and supply, Escoms were directed to maintain uninterrupted supply to urban areas, Nirantara Jyothi Yojana (NJY) feeders and industrial feeders. Supply to agricultural loads, however, is being managed in batches. Three-phase power to agricultural pump sets is being provided for seven hours a day, staggered between daytime and night-time hours so that irrigation pump sets keep functioning. The existing arrangement will be restored once power availability improves.

The official said coordination among KPCL, KPTCL, PCKL and the Escoms would help identify and address emerging stress on the transmission network in time. The duration and pattern of supply to domestic, industrial, commercial and irrigation pump set consumers will be reviewed according to the power available in the system.