UP Faces 1,500-2,000 MW Power Shortfall Amid Coal Supply Disruptions, Plant Outages

Lucknow, Sep 16 (KNN) Uttar Pradesh is facing a power availability shortfall of around 1,500-2,000 MW amid disruptions in coal supplies and outages at several thermal power units, forcing the state utility to procure electricity at high market prices and impose limited night-time cuts in rural areas.

Officials said heavy rainfall and waterlogging in coal-producing regions have disrupted coal movement to thermal power plants, affecting generation across the country.

5,340 MW Capacity Under Outage

According to a September 14 report by the Uttar Pradesh State Load Dispatch Centre (UPSLDC), around 5,340 MW of generation capacity was under short- or long-term outage, reported Times Of India.

Affected units include Obra-C Units 1 and 2, Meja Unit-1, Anpara Unit-7, Rosa Unit-2, Ghatampur Unit-1 and units at Harduaganj and Jawaharpur. Ghatampur Unit-2, which went offline on September 13, returned to service early Monday.

UP’s peak power supply touched around 30,625 MW in September last year, with demand this season remaining at comparable levels. However, UPPCL is currently able to manage supply of around 27,000 MW.

Power Prices Touch Rs 10 Per Unit

UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) said electricity availability on the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) has also tightened.

Since September 1, electricity at the exchange’s ceiling price of Rs 10 per unit has been available for an average of around 16 hours a day. UPPCL said procuring additional 2,000-3,000 MW becomes particularly difficult during night hours, when demand remains high, resulting in limited rural power cuts.

During the day, the utility is purchasing electricity at prices of up to Rs 10 per unit to maintain uninterrupted supply wherever possible.

UPPCL Seeks Power From All Available Sources

UPPCL chairman and Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Ashish Kumar Goel reviewed the situation on Monday and directed officials to procure electricity from all available sources to maintain the prescribed supply schedule.

The utility said it is closely monitoring generation and market availability as coal supply disruptions and technical outages continue to constrain the state’s power availability.

(KNN Bureau)