ENA State 2025-01-09 14:07:50 <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Shimla, Jan 9 (KNN)</strong> The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEBL) is currently importing more than 200 lakh units of power daily to meet the state's total demand of approximately 370 lakh units. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The board is managing this shortfall through a combination of banking arrangements and market purchases, with 130 lakh units being sourced through power banking agreements with other states and 80 lakh units through market tie-ups and open market procurement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Power generation in the state has experienced a significant seasonal decline, currently operating at merely 20 percent of its peak capacity. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Daily power production has stabilised at around 150-160 lakh units, with HPSEBL-managed projects contributing 18 lakh units and Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) facilities generating 7 lakh units. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Additional power sources include 33 lakh units of free power from Independent Power Producers and 100 lakh units from Central Public Sector Undertakings operating within the state.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">A senior HPSEBL official explained that the board employs strategic planning for winter power procurement, including advance market tie-ups to address anticipated deficits, supplemented by real-time open market purchases to manage sudden demand fluctuations or generation shortfalls. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The official emphasised that this winter decline in generation follows a typical seasonal pattern, attributable to reduced water availability in rivers, and mirrors the generation levels observed during the same period last year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Looking ahead, power officials expect generation levels to maintain their current status quo before showing slight improvements beginning in February. A more substantial increase in power generation is anticipated from March onwards, coinciding with the seasonal change in water availability.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><em><strong>(KNN Bureau)</strong></em></span></p> 40574 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/state/hit-by-cold-wave-himachal-pradesh-suffers-power-shortages-imports-200-lu-daily 2025-01-09 14:07:50 knnindia.co.in