India / MSEDCL 13 units stopped working due to coal crisis in Maharashtra

Mumbai: A total of 13 units of power stations supplying electricity to Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) have been shut down on Sunday due to the coal crisis. Due to this, 3330 MW power supply has come to a standstill in the state. Alam is that the consumers are being appealed to use less electricity.

Appeal to use less electricity

MSEDCL has appealed to the consumers to reduce the usage of electricity from 6 am to 10 am and 6 pm to 10 pm to balance the demand and supply. Units of 210-210 MW, Paras-250 MW and Bhusaval and Chandrapur units of 210-210 MW, Chandrapur, Bhusaval and Nashik have been closed. Apart from this, 4 sets of 640 MW of Postal Gujarat Power Limited (Gujarat) and 3 sets of 810 MW of Ratan India Power Limited (Amravati) are closed.

Electricity purchased at the rate of Rs 13.60 per unit

At present, power is being purchased from the open market to fill the gap of 3330 MW between the demand and supply of electricity. Due to increase in demand for electricity across the country, the purchase price of electricity is also becoming expensive. 700 MW power is being purchased from the open market at the rate of Rs 13.60 per unit. On Sunday morning, 900 MW of electricity was purchased at the rate of Rs 6.23 per unit through real time transactions. In addition, electricity is being provided through the Koyna Dam as well as other small hydro power plants and non-conventional energy sources. The demand for electricity has also increased due to the rising temperature in the state, while the shortage of coal is deepening.

Political struggle erupts over power crisis

On Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, while writing a letter to the central government, told that only one day's electricity supply can be provided in the capital, only that much coal is left. However, Union Minister RK Singh on Sunday dismissed these reports of coal crisis outright. After this, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia hit back at the Union Minister and called his claim wrong. Manish Sisodia said that it is clearly visible from the statement of the Union Minister that the Central Government is now looking for excuses.