GUWAHATI: The demand-generation gap of power in Assam has come to such a pass that the APDCL (Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd.) purchases power from the national power grid at Rs 10 per unit and supplies it to consumers at Rs 7 per unit on average, incurring a loss of Rs 3 per unit. This is to minimize the wide purchase price-supply price gap.
The scorching heat these days makes consumers in all states consume more power. It is not known how long the national power grid will continue to meet the rising power demands of the states. The state produces only 150 MW of power daily compared to its capacity of 442 MW. The state needs around 2,500 MW daily.
APDCL has been spending thousands of crores of rupees on purchasing power from outside for the past few years, and the outflow of funds keeps rising every successive year.
APDCL purchased power worth Rs 5,530 crore in 2019–20, and the amount increased to Rs 5807 crore in 2020–21 and Rs 5917 crore in 2021–22. According to official sources, Assam needed such a high demand of 2,500 MW in July. However, due to the scorching heat this year, the state needs 2,500 MW of power in June.
Domestic power production fell drastically. One unit of the Karbi-Langpi Hydel Project stopped generation in November last year, and another unit of the project that produced 100 MW does not work frequently.
According to official sources, the State Government does not want to invest in costly thermal power projects in the state. Rather, it wants to invest in power in other states and get power in shares.
According to official sources, Rs 0.30 to Rs 0.70 as an additional charge for fuel is too meagre to bridge the huge gap between the rate of power purchase and the rate at which the APDCL supplies power. The state has 61 lakh domestic power consumers, consuming 55.47 percent of power, and 3.50 lakh commercial consumers, consuming 13 percent of power.
According to official sources, as the scope for power generation is smaller, the government places more stress on mini-hydro projects. However, such projects are under construction. The 6,000-MW solar power projects under construction in the state will also take more time.
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