Power Scene Grim In Capital
Power Scene Grim In Capital, NCR; Won't Get Better
It is not just Delhi, which experiences a blackout every time power demand hits its peak. The entire National Capital Region - including Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad - shares the same fate.
With population burgeoning in these satellite towns, power demand has grown at an average rate of 8-10 per cent every year. But the corresponding power generation has failed to keep pace with this growth. The results are there for all to see.
Daily outages of over eight hours have become a regular feature in these areas. Residents of Gurgaon hit the streets every summer demanding more power. In Noida, industries have changed their schedule and work in night shifts when power demand is low. In Ghaziabad, residents living in housing societies pay through their nose to get uninterrupted power supplied through captive power plants set up by developers.
Hope For Delhi And NCR: New Plants
Powerless State
In the entire NCR - including Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad - power demand has grown at an average rate of 8-10 per cent every year while supply has not kept pace
NOIDA
Demand: 470MW
Supply: 320MW
Shortfall: 150MW
GREATER NOIDA
Demand: 75MW
Supply: 50W
Shortfall: 25MW
6 HOURS: average daily outage
7-8% rate at which Noida's power demand is climbing every year
Shortfall blamed on
Demand climbing steeply in recent years, driven by power-guzzler multinational companies and industries in Noida-Greater Noida and the thousands of new settlers
No power plant exclusively serving Noida Greater Noida
Power guzzlers
Large and small industries, malls, multiplexes, offices, BPOs, commercial units
Coping strategy
Industries have installed generators
Some have rescheduled work hours to night when power demand is low
Residential colonies have installed generators
Way forward
A 250MW plant cleared but no firm commitment on gas for plant has delayed project. Authorities now planning a small coal-based plant
12% rate at which Ghaziabad's power demand is climbing every yearrate, leading to outages of nine hours everyday.
GHAZIABAD
Demand: 525MW
Supply: 375MW
Shortfall: 150MW
9 hours: average daily outage
10-12% rate at which Ghaziabad's power demand is climbing every year
Shortfall blamed on
Supply can't match demand: Uttar Pradesh consumes 6,500MW every day, more than double of what it generates: 3,000MW. State buys 2,000MW from other states
Power-generation capacity in state has remained unchanged in last 25 years
Distribution grid trips frequently when demand peaks
Power guzzlers
New residential colonies Indirapuram, Vaishali, Vasundhara, Shalimar Garden and Govindpuram
8,000 small/medium/large industrial units Coping strategy
Industries depend on generators and diesel-run captive power plants (CPPs). Malls, multiplexes also depend on them
Builders provide power backup units. Homeowner gets separate connection that draws from backup. Charges: between Rs 9 and Rs 12 per unit
In housing colonies, households have what are known as `electricity points' that draw power from big generators. Charges for a point: Rs 150-350 per month.
Rs 12 per unit
: rate at which people in Ghaziabad buy power from private sources
Delhi is no different and is facing its worst power shortage with a 4.4 per cent peak demand deficit. The Capital faced an energy shortfall of 4.2 per cent and peak deficit of 4.4 per cent in April. Peak shortage in 2005-06 was 3.3 per cent, 1.9 per cent in 2004-05 and 3 per cent in 2003-04.
It is not just Delhi, which experiences a blackout every time power demand hits its peak. The entire National Capital Region - including Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad - shares the same fate.
With population burgeoning in these satellite towns, power demand has grown at an average rate of 8-10 per cent every year. But the corresponding power generation has failed to keep pace with this growth. The results are there for all to see.
Daily outages of over eight hours have become a regular feature in these areas. Residents of Gurgaon hit the streets every summer demanding more power. In Noida, industries have changed their schedule and work in night shifts when power demand is low. In Ghaziabad, residents living in housing societies pay through their nose to get uninterrupted power supplied through captive power plants set up by developers.
Hope For Delhi And NCR: New Plants
Powerless State
In the entire NCR - including Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad - power demand has grown at an average rate of 8-10 per cent every year while supply has not kept pace
NOIDA
Demand: 470MW
Supply: 320MW
Shortfall: 150MW
GREATER NOIDA
Demand: 75MW
Supply: 50W
Shortfall: 25MW
6 HOURS: average daily outage
7-8% rate at which Noida's power demand is climbing every year
Shortfall blamed on
Demand climbing steeply in recent years, driven by power-guzzler multinational companies and industries in Noida-Greater Noida and the thousands of new settlers
No power plant exclusively serving Noida Greater Noida
Power guzzlers
Large and small industries, malls, multiplexes, offices, BPOs, commercial units
Coping strategy
Industries have installed generators
Some have rescheduled work hours to night when power demand is low
Residential colonies have installed generators
Way forward
A 250MW plant cleared but no firm commitment on gas for plant has delayed project. Authorities now planning a small coal-based plant
12% rate at which Ghaziabad's power demand is climbing every yearrate, leading to outages of nine hours everyday.
GHAZIABAD
Demand: 525MW
Supply: 375MW
Shortfall: 150MW
9 hours: average daily outage
10-12% rate at which Ghaziabad's power demand is climbing every year
Shortfall blamed on
Supply can't match demand: Uttar Pradesh consumes 6,500MW every day, more than double of what it generates: 3,000MW. State buys 2,000MW from other states
Power-generation capacity in state has remained unchanged in last 25 years
Distribution grid trips frequently when demand peaks
Power guzzlers
New residential colonies Indirapuram, Vaishali, Vasundhara, Shalimar Garden and Govindpuram
8,000 small/medium/large industrial units Coping strategy
Industries depend on generators and diesel-run captive power plants (CPPs). Malls, multiplexes also depend on them
Builders provide power backup units. Homeowner gets separate connection that draws from backup. Charges: between Rs 9 and Rs 12 per unit
In housing colonies, households have what are known as `electricity points' that draw power from big generators. Charges for a point: Rs 150-350 per month.
Rs 12 per unit
: rate at which people in Ghaziabad buy power from private sources
Delhi is no different and is facing its worst power shortage with a 4.4 per cent peak demand deficit. The Capital faced an energy shortfall of 4.2 per cent and peak deficit of 4.4 per cent in April. Peak shortage in 2005-06 was 3.3 per cent, 1.9 per cent in 2004-05 and 3 per cent in 2003-04.