UP govt not to withdraw excess power from the grid

Lucknow, July 4: The people of Uttar Pradesh may have to face some more problems on power front as state government has decided not to withdraw any excess power from the grid against the quota.

With the new decision, heavy roastering in the districts is expected following shortage of power to the tune of about 2000 MW in the peak hours.

UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) here today said the decision to avoid withdrawing excess power in the peak hours has been taken after the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) had increased the charge to Rs 7.45 per unit.

This situation has amerged in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to lift the stay on the decision of the Allahabad High Court on the penalty imposed by the centre on excess withdrawal of power from the Northern grid.

Supreme Court on Monday had allowed the CERC to charge utilities including UPPCL, as per its notification, for overdrawing power in excess of their entitlements.

At present UPPCL has to pay unscheduled interchange penalty charges to the centre if it draws power from the grid in excess of its entitlement of 3500 to 4000 MW per day and if the frequency of the grid is below 49.5 hertz.

Before April this year, the charges was Rs 5.70 per unit but in CERC hiked it to Rs 7.45 per unit which was stayed by the HC in the same month.

Sources said generally UPPCL overdraws around 1000 MW from the grid during the power shortage which will become impossible now due to steep hike in the penalty rate.

However, UPPCL will continue to have the facility to pay a normal rate of Rs 3.40 per unit for excess withdrawal when the frequency of the grid is above 49.5 hertz.

UNI