Delhi faces 500 MW power shortage everyday: PHD Chairman

New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) Out of a 3600 MW power consumption, the national capital faces a shortage of 500 MW everyday due to electricity theft, PHDCCI Chairman Kamal Meattle said today.

''Better control methods can save upto 40 per cent of power in the domestic sector which can bring down the cost of one MW to Rs four crore,'' Mr Meattle told reporters here.

A single unit of energy conserved is equivalent to 1.6 units of energy generated, he added.

Mr Meattle said that there is rampant power theft in colonies like Rohini and Bawana where a transformer of capacity 400 KVA in which the losses are as high as 93.6 per cent to 97 per cent.

He said if calculated in figures, it will be a loss in crore of rupees.

Mr Meattle said check in power theft and use of devices like Compact Fluorescent Lamps and electronic chokes have brought down transmission losses to 15 per cent recently and Delhi can save upto Rs 100 crore everyday if there is an introduction of zero VAT and excise duties on these items.

The Delhi Government has submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court that power cuts will continue upto 2010. In this regard, Mr Meattle said, if there is a check on the power theft and power saving, there would be no power cuts by 2007 but for this participation from the people is desired.

UNI SRS PV KP1932