Indian Power Sector News

Indian Power Sector News http://www.kseboa.org/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:30:09 +0000 FeedCreator 1.7.2 Fewer power projects may get more coal in 12th Plan http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/Mkjvhw5-Tfc/fewer-power-projects-may-get-more-coal-in-12th-plan-09022058.html The government seems to be preparing the power sector for low fuel availability. In the next Five-Year Plan, it is looking to reduce power capacity from Coal India Limited (CIL)'s linkages. If the plan is carried out, the trend of huge capacity additions and low coal supply would be checked. In a meeting to be convened this week, senior officials from the coal ministry, the power ministry and the Planning Commission would debate the need to freeze capacity of power projects for which CIL would supply coal in the 12th Five-Year Plan. The Plan has an ambitious target of 100,000 Mw of capacity.

]]> Lathish PV Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:12:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/fewer-power-projects-may-get-more-coal-in-12th-plan-09022058.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/fewer-power-projects-may-get-more-coal-in-12th-plan-09022058.html PGCIL plans to enter smart-grid technology business http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/n94nG4VvYkc/pgcil-plans-to-enter-smart-grid-technology-business-08022057.html Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd (PGCIL) plans to enter businesses, including smart-grid technology and product development for towers and conductors, that have links to its main power transmission operations. The state-run utility has also lined up a Rs.1 trillion capital expenditure for the 12th Plan period (2012-17), of which it has already tied up Rs.30,000 crore as loans.

"We plan to develop the smart-grid market in a big way," said a senior PGCIL executive, requesting anonymity. "We will be very successful as everybody else is doing it in a piecemeal way. We also plan to enter the product development space for towers and conductors."

]]> Harikumar B Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:03:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/pgcil-plans-to-enter-smart-grid-technology-business-08022057.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/pgcil-plans-to-enter-smart-grid-technology-business-08022057.html BHEL commissions India's first 1200kv transformer in Bina http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/ssZv9ieBlHg/bhel-commissions-indias-first-1200kv-transformer-in-bina-07022056.html State-owned BHEL said it has commissioned the country's first 1200 kV ultra high voltage transformer at Bina in Madhya Pradesh. "BHEL commissioned India's first 1200 kV Ultra High Voltage Alternating Current (UHVAC) Transformer of 333 MVA rating at Bina in Madhya Pradesh," a company statement said. The development of the 1200 kV UHVAC system will go a long way in enhancing the transmission efficiency from power hubs to distant load centers, it said.

]]> Lathish PV Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:47:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/bhel-commissions-indias-first-1200kv-transformer-in-bina-07022056.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/bhel-commissions-indias-first-1200kv-transformer-in-bina-07022056.html Adani Power plunges into red http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/Mb-M_d2htn0/adani-power-plunges-into-red-07022055.html High cost of coal pushed Adani Power in the red as the company posted a Rs358 crore loss in the third quarter ended December as against a net profit of Rs109 crore in the same period of the previous fiscal. The company which operates a 2,650 mw thermal plant in Mundra, Gujarat, imports its entire coal requirement. About 33% of its coal comes from Bunyu mines in Indonesia, which is owned by Adani Enterprises, while the rest 67% is procured at higher prices from the open market.

The coal imported from mines other than Bunyu is costing Rs2.50 a tonne as against Rs1 a tonne from the Bunyu mines in the last few quarter, denting profitability, company officials said.

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]]> Pradeep B Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:36:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/adani-power-plunges-into-red-07022055.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/adani-power-plunges-into-red-07022055.html Tata Power looks for higher tariff from Mundra UMPP http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/MqI6viWbgE0/tata-power-looks-for-higher-tariff-from-mundra-umpp-06022054.html Even though Tata power cannot legally get a higher tariff above the lowest tariff bid of Rs 2.26 a unit , they started campagning in the corridors of central Government for a higher tariff citing price increase of Indonesian coal. Tata Power has said the flagship 4,000-MW Mundra UMPP could become a "non-performing asset" if no decision is taken on increasing tariffs for electricity from the plant.

Tata Power bagged the Mundra project in 2007 on the basis of the lowest tariff bid of Rs 2.26 a unit, but they argue that a change in the coal pricing policy in Indonesia has disturbed the cost structure of this project. Other private developers are also started asking for higher tariff on the lines of Tata. But, many critics in power sector feels that private companies like Tata and Reliance are undrequoting to get big power projects like UMPP, where the Governments will provide tax incentives. By under quoting they can outbid public sector companies. Later, they have the power to get higher tariff by some means. As per UMPP bid agreement fuel cost will not be reflected in power tariff. Now, when the project is nearing completion, these private companies are asking tariffs higher than those quoted by NTPC during the original bid process. Any increase in power tariff will burden the common man's money as it will be passed to them immediately.

]]> Lathish PV Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:51:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/tata-power-looks-for-higher-tariff-from-mundra-umpp-06022054.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/tata-power-looks-for-higher-tariff-from-mundra-umpp-06022054.html Power producers seek clarity on CIL's price rollback http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/0mVJjTLwREk/power-producers-seek-clarity-on-cils-price-rollback-04022052.html Power generating companies and coal traders have welcomed Coal India Limited (CIL)'s move to withdraw rise in coal prices. However, they have sought clarity on the rollback and on how the gross calorific value (GCV) mechanism would be cost-neutral. CIL had raised coal prices under a new pricing mechanism, under which the prices were linked to the quality of coal. However, this was opposed by power, steel and cement firms.

The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MahaGenco) is expected to get annual relief of Rs 1,400 crore after the rollback in prices. Managing director Subrat Ratho told Business Standard, "On the basis of the GCV-based billing that coal companies had indicated to us in January, we had estimated there would be an additional burden of Rs 1,400 crore. Now, with the withdrawal of the price rise, we would like to know from coal companies whether the whole impact would be reversed or would there be a partial impact. As of now, there is no clarity."

]]> Suresh Kumar MG Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:14:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/power-producers-seek-clarity-on-cils-price-rollback-04022052.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/power-producers-seek-clarity-on-cils-price-rollback-04022052.html Nitish against retrospective power tariff hike http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/lVBUud-7Tys/nitish-against-retrospective-power-tariff-hike-04022051.html Making a spirited plea for the protection of power users' interests, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on 03-02-2012 opposed the practice of enhancement of tariff and fuel surcharge with retrospective effect. Addressing a national-level meet of the state electricity regulatory commission heads at Bodh Gaya, the CM asked power regulators to submit their reports in time and stop the practice of imposing burden on power users with retrospective effect.

He also said that power users cannot be made to pay for the lack of efficiency and professionalism of the people engaged in power generation, transmission and distribution. The CM reiterated that Bihar wanted to go forward in the power sector and adequate central assistance was required to achieve the set goals.

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]]> Harikumar B Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:45:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/nitish-against-retrospective-power-tariff-hike-04022051.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/nitish-against-retrospective-power-tariff-hike-04022051.html 5 states accounted for 80% of total discom loss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/evQ_64bGKGg/5-states-accounted-for-80-of-total-discom-loss-03022047.html Rating agency Fitch said the losses of power distribution companies in five states contributed to 80% of the total losses in the sector during 2009-10. "Losses of Distribution companies [discoms] in the five states -- Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana, constituted 80% of the total losses of all discoms in the country in financial ended March 2010," Fitch said in a statement.

The weak financial profile of discoms is the primary cause of stress for state power utilities. They posted Rs 29,500 crore worth of losses in fiscal 2009-10 against Rs 7,000 crore in fiscal 2005-06.

]]> Harikumar B Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:12:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/5-states-accounted-for-80-of-total-discom-loss-03022047.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/5-states-accounted-for-80-of-total-discom-loss-03022047.html Excellence Enhancement centre for the Indian Power Sector Launched http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/sv7UibWzYmQ/excellence-enhancement-centre-for-the-indian-power-sector-launched-03022049.html Minister of State for Power, Shri K.C. Venugopal has underlined the need for improving energy efficiency in power sector. He was launching the Excellence Enhancement Centre (EEC) for the Indian power sector at a function in New Delhi. Stating that the present level of average efficiency of power generation in the country is only 32.5%, the Minister said even incremental increase in power cycle efficiency will not only reduce the generation cost, but will also result in quantum jump in energy saving and reduce the emission level. He said that the establishment of Excellence Enhancement Centre will play a major role in addressing the challenges in power sector and facilitate achieving higher cycle efficiency.

Highlighting the issue of renovation and modernisation aging power stations, the Minister said that the works relating to 87 units having an aggregate capacity of 19,366 MW have been completed during 11th Five Year Plan. He added that another 135 units with a total capacity of 34,681 MW would be taken up during 12th Five Year Plan. Shri Venugopal said that the Excellence Enhancement Centre should channalize the best of the technologies and methodologies available in the world for carrying out the renovation and modernisation of aging power stations for optimum results.

]]> Lathish PV Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:25:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/excellence-enhancement-centre-for-the-indian-power-sector-launched-03022049.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/excellence-enhancement-centre-for-the-indian-power-sector-launched-03022049.html Delhi - 5% Fuel Price Adjustment from February 1 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/xwTecxB7y2U/delhi-5-fuel-price-adjustment-from-february-1-03022045.html People in the city will have to shell out more for electricity with power regulator DERC effecting a 5 per cent hike in tariff to adjust the power purchase cost of distribution companies. The hike has come into effect from February 1, for a period of next three months following which DERC is likely to review the increase based on cost of buying power by the distribution companies.

"We have effected a 5 per cent Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA) surcharge per unit of power for a period of three months," DERC Secretary, Ms Jayashree Raghuraman, said.

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]]> Suresh Kumar MG Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:55:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/delhi-5-fuel-price-adjustment-from-february-1-03022045.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/delhi-5-fuel-price-adjustment-from-february-1-03022045.html High court calls for truce between KSEB, KWA http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/frVQvPgtV3Q/high-court-calls-for-truce-between-kseb-kwa-02022048.html A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court directed the State government to inform the court of its view on the court's proposal to issue a directive to the government to pay the arrears of electricity charges due from the Kerala Water Authority (KWA). The Bench of Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair and Justice Babu Mathew P. Joseph asked the Advocate-General to get instructions from the government urgently and inform the court of its view by February 3.

The court issued the directive on an appeal filed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) against a single judge's directive to the board to restore the electricity connection to the KWA's office in Malappuram even before paying the arrears due to it.

]]> Lathish PV Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:17:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/kseb/high-court-calls-for-truce-between-kseb-kwa-02022048.html http://www.kseboa.org/kseb/high-court-calls-for-truce-between-kseb-kwa-02022048.html R-Power protests review of Sasan coal diversion http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/y2aWE3o5jtY/r-power-protests-review-of-sasan-coal-diversion-02022046.html Reliance Power (R-Power) has rushed to rebut an anticipated adverse comment by the Union comptroller and auditor-general (CAG) for having been allowed, in 2008, to divert coal from the mines allotted for its Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) at Sasan in Madhya Pradesh to its other mega project at Chitrangi in the same state. The decision to permit this use of coal surplus to Sasan's use was taken by an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM). CAG had sought the power ministry's comments on the issue.

R-Power has argued that the decision had not resulted in any undue benefit to it or any loss to the exchequer. It has written to six Union government ministers, including law minister Salman Khurshid and power minister Sushilkumar Shinde. "Any proposal to review EGoM decisions taken more than three years ago could severely dent the confidence of the international lending community in Indian projects and would signal lack of policy stability, thereby jeopardising infrastructure investments in the country," R-Power said in the letter to Shinde.

]]> Pradeep B Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:03:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/r-power-protests-review-of-sasan-coal-diversion-02022046.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/r-power-protests-review-of-sasan-coal-diversion-02022046.html KSEB bats for Athirappilly project http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/cX0-jtLF8Vg/kseb-bats-for-athirappilly-project-02022043.html Undeterred by the criticism against Athirappilly hydroelectric project from some corner, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) continues to bat for it. The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), appointed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), has recommended that the proposal should not be cleared citing its environmental impacts. The KSEB proposes a project with an installed capacity of 163 MW across the Chalakudy river.

Responding to the panel's recommendations, the KSEB says that all the contentions against the project "are the offshoot of the issues already discussed, considered and settled by the Expert Appraisal Committee, MoEF, and the High Court of Kerala."

]]> Lathish PV Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:55:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/kseb/kseb-bats-for-athirappilly-project-02022043.html http://www.kseboa.org/kseb/kseb-bats-for-athirappilly-project-02022043.html Odisha- Stay on domestic power tariff hike till HC verdict http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/rmuCUfiJISI/odisha-stay-on-domestic-power-tariff-hike-till-hc-verdict-02022042.html The Odisha electricity regulatory commission (OERC) has decided to wait for the high court verdict on implementation of tariff on domestic users, but has chosen to go ahead with its order on other consumers, including industries. The OERC had slapped an average of 19.74% higher tariff for all categories of consumers in March last year, effective from April 1. The rise in case of domestic consumers, numbering over 22 lakh, was nearly 40%. Consumers, already reeling under spiraling inflation, went to high court seeking justice. While the HC put interim stay on the implementation of the new tariff for domestic consumers, industries went to the Appellate Tribunal in New Delhi.

OERC sources said it had computed the energy tariff and cross-subsidy for 2011-12 for all categories of consumers on the basis of average cost of supply, as laid down in the National Tariff Policy. "However, the tribunal in its orders of May and September respectively had ordered the commission to re-determine the tariff for 2010-11 and 2011-12 on the basis of voltage-wise cost of supply by November 30," an OERC release issued here said.

]]> Lathish PV Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:52:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/odisha-stay-on-domestic-power-tariff-hike-till-hc-verdict-02022042.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/odisha-stay-on-domestic-power-tariff-hike-till-hc-verdict-02022042.html Open Access - Major consumers opt out Escoms in Karnataka http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/n4GNS4ukCb4/open-access-major-consumers-opt-out-escoms-in-karnataka-31012041.html With more than 10 major consumers, including Wipro and Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited, opting out of the services provided by Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), officials fear this is the beginning of the end for Electricity supply companies (Escoms) across Karnataka. The Union power minister had earlier instructed states to implement an open-access system of Electricity Act, 2003, which allows a consumer to purchase power of more than 1 MW from any generator (supplier), explained Bescom managing director P Manivannan, when asked about the open-access system.

Officials blame cross-subsidies for this trend. The current policy provides subsidised power to farmers and highly subsidised cost for beneficiaries such as Bhagya Jyothi and weaker sections by levying higher charges to high-end consumers like commercial and industrial consumers. Now, many high-end consumers have switched to open-access system as they do not have to foot the subsidies bill.

]]> Lathish PV Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:22:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/open-access-major-consumers-opt-out-escoms-in-karnataka-31012041.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/open-access-major-consumers-opt-out-escoms-in-karnataka-31012041.html BSES cos may’ve overstated funds crunch: DERC http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/aXRs5Ss9WXA/bses-cos-mayve-overstated-funds-crunch-derc-30012037.html Delhi's Reliance-backed power distribution companies may have exaggerated their liquidity crisis, the city's power regulator has said after finding discrepancies in the audit reports of the two discoms. Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has refused to accept the accounts submitted by BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna for the period between April and December 2011, and observed that the financial health of the companies did not appear as bad as being made out to be.

The regulator had directed the discoms to submit detailed reports of their monthly revenue generations and expenditure since April 2011 to keep tabs on their accounts. Unhappy with the submissions, DERC has directed the discoms to submit their accounts again.

]]> Pradeep B Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/bses-cos-mayve-overstated-funds-crunch-derc-30012037.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/bses-cos-mayve-overstated-funds-crunch-derc-30012037.html Appellate Tribunal for independent person as ombudsman http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/66Mqg8vC-Bo/appellate-tribunal-for-independent-person-as-ombudsman-29012036.html The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (ATE) has directed all State Power Regulatory Commissions and the Secretary to the Forum of Regulators to ensure that an independent person was appointed in time as ombudsman to deal with consumer interests.The tribunal, comprising chairperson M. Karpaga Vinayagam and technical member Rakesh Nath, gave this direction on 27-01-2012 acting on a petition filed by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission seeking a review of its earlier order.

It said: "The Ombudsman is a separate body. He has to decide the issues independently and he should act independent of the State Commission. Ombudsman plays an independent role of a judge to decide the issues of the consumers and others and so he should not hold any other position in the Commission."

]]> Suresh Kumar MG Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:12:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/appellate-tribunal-for-independent-person-as-ombudsman-29012036.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/appellate-tribunal-for-independent-person-as-ombudsman-29012036.html People accused of power theft cannot escape civil liablilty- Madras HC http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/lPDWPDhkzcs/people-accused-of-power-theft-cannot-escape-civil-liablilty-madras-hc-28012035.html The Madras High Court bench has ruled that people accused of power theft under the Electricity Act, 2003, cannot escape from their civil liability to pay the assessed charges to restore supply, irrespective of whether they choose to compound (forbear prosecution in exchange for money) the criminal offences or not. Justice V. Ramasubramanian disposing of 29 writ petitions by individuals,accused of using domestic power connections for commercial purposes, meter tampering or using agricultural service connections for non-agricultural purposes. They had challenged provisional and final assessment notifications of the TNEB.

The judge said a Special Court, trying the cases under Sec 135 of the Act could determine the criminal as well as civil liability of an accused who chooses to face criminal prosecution without compounding the offence.If the offence was compounded thereby ousting the jurisdiction of the Special Court, then TNEB officials could determine the civil liability and recover it as a sine quo non to restore power supply. The petitioners contended that the legislation draws a distinction between mere unauthorised use of electricity without a dishonest intention under Sec 126 and intentional theft of energy under Section 135. There can be assessment and recovery of charges only under Sec 126 and not Sec 135,leading to criminal prosecution ending up either in acquittal or conviction, they claimed.

]]> Lathish PV Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:38:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/people-accused-of-power-theft-cannot-escape-civil-liablilty-madras-hc-28012035.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/people-accused-of-power-theft-cannot-escape-civil-liablilty-madras-hc-28012035.html PowerMin forwards 12th plan capacity addition proposal to Planning commission http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/yJ7__EDG5_Y/powermin-forwards-12th-plan-capacity-addition-proposal-to-planning-commission-27012034.html The ministry of power is believed to have sent its proposal for addition of 76,000 MW of power capacity in the 12th five-year plan to the planning commission, even as the sector battles acute fuel shortages and environmental issues.The power ministry has set a target for adding 76,000 MW of electricity capacity in the 12th Plan (2012-17) and 93,000 MW in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2017-2022). The ministry is understood to have sent the recommendation to the Plan panel.

"We have finalised 76,000 MW capacity addition for the 12th plan and 93,000 MW for the 13th plan... Now the planning commission has to approve it," a power ministry official told PTI.

]]> Pradeep B Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:59:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/powermin-forwards-12th-plan-capacity-addition-proposal-to-planning-commission-27012034.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/powermin-forwards-12th-plan-capacity-addition-proposal-to-planning-commission-27012034.html NTPC's 2400Mw Kudgi project gets MoEF nod‎ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IndianPowerSectorNews/~3/l9lRso9apU4/ntpcs-2400mw-kudgi-project-gets-moef-nod-26012033.html State-owned power producer National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) said it got Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) clearance for its 2,400-Mega Watt (3x800 Mega Watt), Stage-I Kudgi Super Thermal Power Project being set up in Bijapur district of adjoining Karnataka. The board of directors recently cleared the investment proposal of Rs. 15,166 crore for setting up the project, National Thermal Power Corporation said in a statement in Bangalore.

The company said it would soon start work at the plant site. National Thermal Power Corporation has sourced the 800-Mega Watt units through a bulk tendering process, it said.

]]> Suresh Kumar MG Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:20:00 +0000 http://www.kseboa.org/news/ntpcs-2400mw-kudgi-project-gets-moef-nod-26012033.html http://www.kseboa.org/news/ntpcs-2400mw-kudgi-project-gets-moef-nod-26012033.html