The demand-supply deficit on August 1 is now officially nil, as opposed to the deficit of 46.91 MU on the same day last year.
For the first time in recent times, AP power utilities, on Friday, experienced a "Zero Gap" between demand and supply, mainly due to substantial inflows into Hydel reservoirs, particularly in Srisailam, and heavy rains in many parts of the state.
Disclosing the above details, Suresh Chanda, CMD of APTRANSCO, during a review meeting, said that the demand-supply deficit on August 1 is now nil, as opposed to the deficit of 46.91 MU on the same day last year.
The narrowed demand-supply gap helped DISCOMs completely lift the power cuts to all categories of consumers, including industries, for the first time since September 2011. The reservoir level in Srisailam, which has already reached 882 feet as against the full reservoir level of 885 feet, with inflows of 2 lakh cusecs and outflow of 3.2 lakh cusecs, helped the utilities get optimum hydel generation.
In Nagarjuna Sagar, the reservoir level reached 553 feet, as against the maximum level of 590 feet.
However, the APTRANSCO CMD specifically cautioned the officials of DISCOMs that the demand-supply gap may rise any time depending on an increase in agricultural demand and expected dry weather conditions, as well as the impact of inflows into hydel plants.
The CMD reiterated that utilities will continue their efforts to maintain 7 hours of power supply to the farm sector as per the government's policy, besides planning to adopt special mechanisms to ensure adequate power supply to the industrial sector.
"Reliable, quality & satisfactory power supply to industries will help the state generate more employment opportunities, apart from cross-subsidising the consumers of other categories," he said.
The state suffered severe power shortage during the last 2-3 years. An unprecedented fuel crisis was caused because of the non-availability of natural gas, depleted coal reserves and reduced inflows from catchment areas & upper reaches of neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Karnataka.
It is pertinent to note that power utilities have now removed the prevailing restriction & control (R&C) measures with effect from August 1, 2013, so that all categories of consumers covered under R&C measures can now avail themselves of 100% power supply.
JMDs of APTRANSCO P Ramesh and Y Nagi Reddy, directors of APTRANSCO G Ramakrishna Reddy, S Subrahmanyam and Mohd. Anwaruddin, and other senior officials of APTRANSCO participated in the review meeting. (INN)