The Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) on Friday stopped power generation in both its units due to a shortage of coal. The thermal power station has two units of 600 MW capacity each.
According to sources, coal shipment has been delayed resulting in the shortage. They said the state owes UPCL money. “UPCL has stopped power generation following an ongoing case before the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), Delhi. UPCL has asked for its tariff for power sales to be raised to `4.50 per kWh,” a source said.
The government has been paying `3.127 per kWh and had stated before the CERC that this was a provisional figure decided on by the government. The next hearing is on February 7.
“Yes, they have not generated power today. There is a tariff determination pending before the CERC. We will compensate (for power shortage)...by ramping up production in our hydel and thermal units,” said KPTCL MD S Selvakumar.
A major chunk of the power generated is routed to Bangalore and this may lead to a power shortage and consequent load shedding in the city over the next few days.
“Of the 1,200 MW capacity of UPCL, Bangalore gets around 500 MW of power. This is around 20 per cent of the total supply we receive. There are also some water reserves which can be used,” said BESCOM MD P Manivannan.
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