Indian Power Sector News

Indian Power Sector News http://www.kseboa.org/ Fri, 24 May 2013 06:50:29 +0000 FeedCreator 1.7.2 CEA recommends 126 applications for coal blocks http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/LOCrD4wSJrE/cea-recommends-126-applications-for-coal-blocks-24052817.html CEA

CEA

The Power Ministry and the CEA have recommended only 126 applications for allocation of 14 coal blocks to power PSUs, taking ahead the process of mine allotments to government companies. "Out of 235 valid applications for allocation of 14 coal blocks for power sector, Ministry of Power and Central Electricity Authority (CEA) have recommended only 126 applications after verifying required parameters," the official statement said.

These applications are from 25 government firms from 15 states and central public sector undertakings (PSUs), the statement added.

]]> Lathish PV Fri, 24 May 2013 08:14:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/cea-recommends-126-applications-for-coal-blocks-24052817.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/cea-recommends-126-applications-for-coal-blocks-24052817.html Indian Energy Exchange sees 62% jump in trading volumes http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/x7bqCbGSmQA/indian-energy-exchange-sees-62-jump-in-trading-volumes-23052816.html IEX

IEX

Indian Energy Exchange, the country's first energy trading platform, recorded a 62% increase in trading volume in 2012-13, as frequent electricity outages forced power distributors and industrial units to rely more on it for their needs.

More than 22 billion units of electricity were traded on the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) in 2012-13 compared with 13 billion units a year ago, data provided by IEX shows.

]]> Harikumar B Thu, 23 May 2013 07:51:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/indian-energy-exchange-sees-62-jump-in-trading-volumes-23052816.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/indian-energy-exchange-sees-62-jump-in-trading-volumes-23052816.html Banks to finance TNEB's 100% cash loss for FY14 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/dD6bXckKQJg/banks-to-finance-tnebs-100-cash-loss-for-fy14-22052815.html

Lenders have decided to tweak the financial restructuring package (FRP) for Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). According to the revised terms, the banks will now finance 100 per cent of TNEB's cash loss, as against 70 per cent decided earlier, for the first year following a request by the state government. The Tamil Nadu government had conveyed to the lenders that it might not be able to bear the 30 per cent cash loss as was decided earlier.

Tamil Nadu is the first state to get financial restructuring plan (FRP) done after the central government announced the scheme for restructuring of loans for state electricity boards (SEBs).

]]> Pradeep B Wed, 22 May 2013 06:35:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/banks-to-finance-tnebs-100-cash-loss-for-fy14-22052815.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/banks-to-finance-tnebs-100-cash-loss-for-fy14-22052815.html For BHEL, power marriages aren’t made in heaven http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/W4-GNQJsvik/for-bhel-power-marriages-arent-made-in-heaven-21052814.html

Faced with a decline in its cash balance and convinced that picking up stakes in power plants by way of investment and/or in exchange for equipment supplied would hardly help in the current situation, public sector Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) has taken a strategic decision to exit its joint venture power projects and not enter into any such alliance in the immediate future.

A source privy to the discussions at the PSU's board confirmed this to FE, even as the company maintained that the lack of progress on these JVs were because of reasons beyond its control.

]]> Suresh Kumar MG Tue, 21 May 2013 15:40:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/for-bhel-power-marriages-arent-made-in-heaven-21052814.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/for-bhel-power-marriages-arent-made-in-heaven-21052814.html State power utilities move CCI Against CIL's abuse of power http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/ncRe5smIjhs/state-power-utilities-move-cci-against-cils-abuse-of-power-20052813.html CCI

CCI

State-owned power generating companies are approaching the competition watchdog CCI to complain against Coal India Ltd's (CIL) alleged abuse of monopoly power, which utilities say leads to unfair sales pacts, arbitrary price increases, poor quality of supplies and non-adherence to penalty clauses in supply agreements.

After Maharashtra took up the issue with Competition Commission of India (CCI), states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have all filed petition against CIL's arm-twisting power generating companies into paying more for poor quality coal. Chhattisgarh, Punjab and West Bengal are also contemplating approaching CCI.

]]> Harikumar B Mon, 20 May 2013 08:10:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/state-power-utilities-move-cci-against-cils-abuse-of-power-20052813.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/state-power-utilities-move-cci-against-cils-abuse-of-power-20052813.html NPCIL reassures scientists on Kudankulam nuclear plant safety http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/7d7WK6_LbZ4/npcil-reassures-scientists-on-kudankulam-nuclear-plant-safety-19052812.html NPCIL

NPCIL

NPCIL has sought to reassure a group of scientists who had raised concerns over the safety of Kudankulam nuclear power project (KNPP), saying all equipment installed there has undergone multi-stage quality checks. Sixty scientists, most of them from state-run research institutions, had written letters to the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, voicing concern over the quality of components and equipment used in the KNPP.

"The components and equipment installed in KNPP have undergone multi-stage quality checks ... through well proven and approved chemical, mechanical, non-destructive testing techniques like radiography, ultrasonic testing etc. at various stages to assure meeting of quality and safety standards," the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd said.

]]> Lathish PV Sun, 19 May 2013 09:36:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/npcil-reassures-scientists-on-kudankulam-nuclear-plant-safety-19052812.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/npcil-reassures-scientists-on-kudankulam-nuclear-plant-safety-19052812.html AIPEF to support UP power employees strike against privatisation http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/BjGf-Dm547w/aipef-to-support-up-power-employees-strike-against-privatisation-18052811.html Strike

Strike

The All-India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has come out in open support of UP power employees who have threatened to go on an indefinite work boycott from May 20 against the state government move to privatise power distribution system in four cities: Varanasi, Kanpur, Ghaziabad and Meerut.

In a representation handed over to chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, the federation has substantiated the apprehensions of power employees, who fear the state utility will lose revenue to the private companies. The federation in a statement said that all four selected cities are high revenue earning areas and revenue realisation per unit of electricity sold in these cities is much higher than average revenue realisation of UPPCL.

]]> Lathish PV Sat, 18 May 2013 10:46:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/aipef-to-support-up-power-employees-strike-against-privatisation-18052811.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/aipef-to-support-up-power-employees-strike-against-privatisation-18052811.html Subsidy Non payment - KSEB’s cup of woes full to the brim http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/jLYRQg6RzB4/subsidy-non-payment-ksebs-cup-of-woes-full-to-the-brim-18052810.html Debt

Debt

The State government's decision to exempt domestic consumers who use up to 120 units a month from the latest power tariff hike by providing a monthly subsidy of Rs.10 crore is likely to further worsen the financial crisis grappling the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).

Board sources said that the government already owes Rs.250 crore as subsidy arrears to the KSEB and the latest decision to grant relief to a large section of domestic consumers without providing adequate financial support will again push it to the brink of a deeper financial crisis. Following an earlier tariff revision in September last year, the government had announced to compensate the financial loss incurred by the KSEB by paying a monthly subsidy of Rs.25 crore. The Cabinet decision to grant subsidy is bound to be reviewed in three months.

Read more...

]]> Lathish PV Sat, 18 May 2013 09:37:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/kseb/subsidy-non-payment-ksebs-cup-of-woes-full-to-the-brim-18052810.html http://www.kseboa.org/kseb/subsidy-non-payment-ksebs-cup-of-woes-full-to-the-brim-18052810.html Haryana HC rejects petitions against nuclear plant in Gorakhpur http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/kGyJKOTvLLA/haryana-hc-rejects-petitions-against-nuclear-plant-in-gorakhpur-17052804.html Nuclear

Nuclear

In what can be seen as a green signal to the upcoming 2,800 MW atomic power project in Gorakhpur village of Fatehabad district in Haryana, the Punjab and Haryana high court on 16-05-2013 dismissed a bunch of petitions filed by farmers against the plant.

A division bench of the HC comprising Justice A K Mittal and Justice G S Sandhawalia passed these orders while giving reference to recent supreme court judgment, giving a go-ahead for Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu, in which SC had observed that such plants are set up for the welfare of people and for sustainable growth.

Read more...

]]> Harikumar B Fri, 17 May 2013 09:01:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/haryana-hc-rejects-petitions-against-nuclear-plant-in-gorakhpur-17052804.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/haryana-hc-rejects-petitions-against-nuclear-plant-in-gorakhpur-17052804.html Haryana contests CERC ruling in Adani case http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/M0D6yQ0hvDs/haryana-contests-cerc-ruling-in-adani-case-16052803.html Haryana

Haryana

The Haryana Government is challenging in court a decision by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to allow Adani Power to raise tariffs, dealing a potential blow to a key sector struggling with chronic losses and erratic fuel supplies. The case filed by Haryana underscores the ability of local politics to derail a federal decision that was hailed by power companies as a step toward ending electricity shortages that sap the competitiveness of domestic businesses, hobbling economic growth.

Read more...

]]> Pradeep B Thu, 16 May 2013 09:24:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/haryana-contests-cerc-ruling-in-adani-case-16052803.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/haryana-contests-cerc-ruling-in-adani-case-16052803.html The Past, Present and Future of Single Phase Metering In India http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/IslZQnSQfYs/the-past-present-and-future-of-single-phase-metering-in-india-16052807.html Meter

Meter

With the imple-mentation of RGGVY scheme, the requirement of single phase meters has become more and more. The financially crunched utilities are struggling hard to buy good quality meters with communication facility, as returns from these meters are meager, but at the same time they have to come up with the technology for electrical meters underway in many other countries. Here an attempt is made to go through various phases of this sector over the past few decades and years to come.
From the century old rotating wheel or Ferraris meter or electro mechanical meter, Utilities in India are following the trend in utilities in other parts of the world. With the advent of electronics and IT, the technology behind electrical meters underway tremendously but there is still many unanswered questions surrounding the best implementation system.

Read more...

]]> G. Sreenivasan, Resident Engineer (KSEB), New Delhi Thu, 16 May 2013 09:16:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/the-past-present-and-future-of-single-phase-metering-in-india-16052807.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/the-past-present-and-future-of-single-phase-metering-in-india-16052807.html Hydel plants to get more financial incentives and renewable status http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/BozXcWJXzLk/hydel-plants-to-get-more-financial-incentives-and-renewable-status-15052799.html Hydel

Hydel

The power ministry is preparing a booster dose of financial incentives and easier green norms to energize the hydel sector that would also prop up 136 private projects, including those by companies aggregating a capacity of 40,000 mw, or enough power to light up 8-10 cities of Delhi's size.

A panel set up by power minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has recommended excise duty exemption for cement, steel and equipment used for constructing hydel projects. It has also suggested waiver of service tax on construction activities. These exemptions are expected to substantially reduce project costs and subsequently the electricity tariffs. Hydel projects cost more than thermal plants and take longer to build. They also face geographical uncertainties during construction besides threats from local activism.

]]> Lathish PV Wed, 15 May 2013 07:56:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/hydel-plants-to-get-more-financial-incentives-and-renewable-status-15052799.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/hydel-plants-to-get-more-financial-incentives-and-renewable-status-15052799.html Wind power producers oppose competitive bidding http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/eslnoSAPITs/wind-power-producers-oppose-competitive-bidding-14052798.html Wind

Wind

The newly-formed Wind Independent Power Producers Association (WIPPA) has started off with two major campaign themes — opposing price discovery of wind power tariff through a competitive bidding route and moving the judiciary to enforce renewable purchase obligation.

WIPPA, which had been in the forming for several months now, was formally launched at Renergy 2013, a conference of the renewable energy industry organised here by the Tamilnadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA). WIPPA is an association of wind IPPs, or those companies whose main business is that of selling wind power-generated electricity, as opposed to entities who are in other businesses but also put up windmills, mostly for availing themselves of tax breaks.

]]> Lathish PV Tue, 14 May 2013 10:02:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/wind-power-producers-oppose-competitive-bidding-14052798.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/wind-power-producers-oppose-competitive-bidding-14052798.html Banks okay Rajasthan SEB’s debt recast plan http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/ZtR4Iz7hZ6U/banks-okay-rajasthan-sebs-debt-recast-plan-13052797.html

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan State Electricity Board's financial restructuring plan (FRP) for R38,000 crore of short-term liabilities (STLs) has been approved by three lead banks, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank and Central Bank of India. Bankers involved in the recast said they planned to keep the interest on the loan component, of R19,000 crore, at 12-12.5%, the level at which the SEB was earlier servicing the debt, while allowing the borrower a moratorium of three years on the principal.

]]> Harikumar B Mon, 13 May 2013 11:35:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/banks-okay-rajasthan-sebs-debt-recast-plan-13052797.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/banks-okay-rajasthan-sebs-debt-recast-plan-13052797.html NTPC says Delhi discoms not drawing power, availability not an issue http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/rL_ncUTjRfc/ntpc-says-delhi-discoms-not-drawing-power-availability-not-an-issue-11052795.html NTPC

NTPC

Delhi distribution companies are not drawing electricity from NTPC stations even though they are are short of power but availability is not an issue, the state-run power generator said. The remarks come amidst the National Capital Region (NCR) experiencing power cuts on increasing demand with mercury levels rising. Media have reported power shortage to the tune of 600 MW in Delhi earlier.

"Delhi is short of power but no one is buying power from us. They are not drawing around 283 MW of electricity even when the capacity is available," A N Dave, Regional Executive Director, NTPC, told reporters.

]]> Lathish PV Sun, 12 May 2013 02:32:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/ntpc-says-delhi-discoms-not-drawing-power-availability-not-an-issue-11052795.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/ntpc-says-delhi-discoms-not-drawing-power-availability-not-an-issue-11052795.html IIP growth plunges to two-decade low in 2012-13 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/21uFd8wQmZM/iip-growth-plunges-to-two-decade-low-in-2012-13-11052796.html Industry Growth

Industry Growth

Industry's performance in the last financial year was the worst in the past 20 years but the smart recovery in March cushioned the shock somewhat. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in 2012-13 grew by one per cent, down from 2.9 per cent in the previous year and manufacturing output grew just 1.2 per cent, prompting rating agency CRISIL to say "history seems to be repeating itself. The current situation is reminiscent of the crisis year of 1991-92 (when there was a severe balance of payments problem)".

What cheered policymakers was the 2.5 per cent growth in March against 0.6 per cent in the previous month.

]]> Suresh Kumar MG Sat, 11 May 2013 05:50:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/iip-growth-plunges-to-two-decade-low-in-2012-13-11052796.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/iip-growth-plunges-to-two-decade-low-in-2012-13-11052796.html FOR draft legislation proposes greater autonomy to discoms http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/MpRvy9g4Ksg/for-draft-legislation-proposes-greater-autonomy-to-discoms-10052794.html Pramod Deo, FOR chairman

Pramod Deo, FOR chairman

A draft on State Electricity Distribution Responsibility Bill prepared by the Forum of Regulators (FOR) proposes casting responsibility on the state government for taking measures enabling the financial turnaround of distribution licensees.

Besides, it envisages power purchase planning and procurement in short, medium and long term by distribution licensee with the approval of the state electricity regulatory commission (SERC), time bound programme for loss reduction, establishment of special courts to tackle theft and greater autonomy to the state distribution licensee.

]]> Lathish PV Fri, 10 May 2013 07:07:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/for-draft-legislation-proposes-greater-autonomy-to-discoms-10052794.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/for-draft-legislation-proposes-greater-autonomy-to-discoms-10052794.html Bihar initiates privatization of power distribution in 12 towns http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/G03eFU_gy5c/bihar-initiates-privatization-of-power-distribution-in-12-towns-09052793.html Bihar

Bihar

The Bihar government has initiated the privatization of power distribution network in 12 cities and awarded the contract for Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur. State energy secretary Sandeep Poundrik made this announcement here on Wednesday at the daylong conference on 'Powering Bihar: approaches to distribution reforms'. The conference was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Bihar office, in collaboration with Bihar government.

Talking about Patna, Poundrik said the distribution companies have decided to change the existing eligibility criteria to attract experienced players. He admitted that the T&D loss in Bihar was huge.

]]> Lathish PV Thu, 09 May 2013 05:04:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/bihar-initiates-privatization-of-power-distribution-in-12-towns-09052793.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/bihar-initiates-privatization-of-power-distribution-in-12-towns-09052793.html Red tape blows KSEB’s bill plan http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/niVFqugjYkM/red-tape-blows-ksebs-bill-plan-08052790.html Kerala

Kerala

Bureaucratic apathy is likely to stymie the introduction of a centralised system envisaged by the government for streamlining the Kerala State Electricity Board's (KSEB) monthly energy charge collection from government departments, civic bodies and public sector undertakings.

In the wake of the board's complaints about the mounting arrears, about Rs.1,500 crore, from various departments, local-self government institutions and public sector undertakings till December 31, the government had decided to introduce the centralised system making the heads of departments responsible for remitting the monthly bills as well as the arrears of the offices under their purview.

]]> Lathish PV Wed, 08 May 2013 21:24:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/kseb/red-tape-blows-ksebs-bill-plan-08052790.html http://www.kseboa.org/kseb/red-tape-blows-ksebs-bill-plan-08052790.html RBI proposes IBPS - Utility bill queues to be history http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/WS3J7QpSksk/rbi-proposes-ibps-utility-bill-queues-to-be-history-08052788.html Queue

Queue

In a move that will eliminate queues for bill payment across the country, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposes to put in place an Indian Bill Payment System (IBPS) platform which allows consumer to pay any bill in banks, post offices or ATMs and get instant proof of payment.

Today, a large section of the upper middle class has managed to escape the pain of waiting in queues because of arrangements that billers have with aggregators. But over 90% of bill payments in India continue to be made at collection counters by cheque and cash. To enable these consumers a more efficient way of payment, RBI had constituted a committee to study the feasibility of 'Giro' based payment system in India. Giro refers to payment instructions initiated by the payer as against transactions where the decision to deposit the cheque is taken by the recipient.

]]> Lathish PV Wed, 08 May 2013 09:08:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/rbi-proposes-ibps-utility-bill-queues-to-be-history-08052788.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/rbi-proposes-ibps-utility-bill-queues-to-be-history-08052788.html