Karnataka will have access to an additional 1,000 megawatts of electricity from November 1 through power exchanges with Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, BESCOM managing director N. Shivashankar said, as the state prepares for demand to rise further in the coming months.
The additional supply will take Karnataka’s available power secured through the arrangement to 2,000 MW. Shivashankar said 1,000 MW that had been supplied to the three states under an agreement from June to September became available to Karnataka from October 1. A further 1,000 MW will be available from November 1. He added that arrangements had also been made to purchase electricity if required.
The announcement follows a record in power demand. Karnataka’s demand crossed 20,000 MW on September 11, the highest recorded so far, according to Shivashankar. He said demand could increase by another 5% in the coming months and that preparations had been made to manage the requirement.
The pressure on the electricity system has been driven by higher consumption from agricultural pump sets and air conditioners, along with lower wind power generation. Shivashankar said Karnataka consumed between 330 million and 350 million units a day in September this year, compared with 230 million to 240 million units a day during the same month last year.
Wind generation capacity in the state is estimated at between 2,500 MW and 3,000 MW, but output fell to 200-300 MW during September, worsening the supply situation. Generation has since improved, with 686 MW produced on the Monday when Shivashankar spoke to reporters.
The supply arrangements could also affect electricity costs. BESCOM normally buys power at around ₹6.50 per unit and sometimes pays ₹7-₹8 per unit in the open market. In September, however, it purchased electricity at a maximum price of ₹10 per unit. Shivashankar said the higher procurement cost could result in a modest increase in consumers’ electricity bills.
The power utility is also asking consumers to reduce the use of high-load appliances during the evening peak period between 6 pm and 9 pm. Washing machines, water pumps and air conditioners could be operated at other times, he said. BESCOM plans to issue a circular explaining which appliances should be used outside the peak period and will conduct an awareness campaign.
Alongside the immediate supply measures, Shivashankar said 32,000 agricultural borewells in Karnataka had so far received solar pump sets under the Kusum-B scheme. Installation work is under way for another 8,000 borewells. Under the PM E-Drive scheme, tenders have been invited for 515 electric vehicle charging stations in the first phase.
BESCOM is also conducting document verification for beneficiaries of the Gruha Jyothi scheme. Shivashankar said 1.10 lakh beneficiaries in the BESCOM area and 20,000 beneficiaries under other electricity supply companies had refused to submit documents. Staff found that 16 lakh consumers in the BESCOM area and 24 lakh across the state were unavailable because their homes were locked or vacant. These consumers have been given another opportunity to submit documents at the offices of the relevant electricity supply companies by October 31.
