Load-shedding in Mumbai if demand crosses 4,200 MW

With the mercury continuing to soar if Mumbairsquos daily electricity demand reaches 4200 MW Mumbaikars will have to face loadshedding This is because the cityrsquos system simply cannot get more power from outside owing to transmission constraints ldquoIt could be touch and go but it will be a concern if the higher demand persists Load shedding will be the only option not for long but for some timerdquo said independent power expert Ashok PendseFor all of last week the cityrsquos power demand hovered around 3750 MW and reached a peak of 3850 MW Pendse said that every 2 degree jump in temperature translates into an additional demand of 150 MWHe added the threat would loom large in the peak demand months of scorching summer as well as in October till the cityrsquos additional transmission corridors are built ldquoIt depends on weather conditions We will know exactly what happens only when the demand actually reaches 4200 MW Technically only power cuts that too during peak demand hours can save the situationrdquo he saidThe cityrsquos power demand hovered around 3750 MW last week File picSpeaking on how to prevent loadshedding Pendse said optimising the use of electricity during peak hours between 3 pm and 5 pm would help While Mumbairsquos power demand has increased by 10 per cent in comparison to the corresponding period last year coal scarcity and soaring temperatures across the state mean that measures will need to be adopted to ration its use he saidOn amp off track projectsOf the transmission projects KhargharVikhroli 400 kV is expected to be completed by March 2023 and AareyKudus HVDC high voltage direct current project has a deadline of 20232024 but it is pending scrutiny in the Supreme Court over Tata Powerrsquos appeal against the contract awarded to Adani Electricity Both projects have been delayed because of various reasons They were planned and approved for augmenting the cityrsquos transmission capacity after a major blackout some 12 years ago Tata Power and Adani Electricity have fought legal battles related to these projects before the state regulator appellate authority and the Apex court and the battle for HVDC still continues before the SCThe cityrsquos embedded generation capacity includes the 1430MW Trombay plant of Tata Power and 500MW power plant of Adani Electricity at Dahanu However this along with 1500 MW imported through transmission corridors which are already choked up is not sufficient to meet the demand hence additional infrastructure is required To make matters worse the stateowned transmission companyrsquos infrastructure has gone kaput thrice in two years including twice this year enforcing power cuts in the cityThe Mumbai Urja Marg Transmission Project is also being constructed by the Ministry of Power comprising 400 kV Padgha to Kharghar transmission line 400 kV Padgha to Navi Mumbai transmission line and 220 kV Apta to Taloja transmission line Once operational Mumbai Urja Marg Transmission Project will have the potential to carry more than 2000 MW of additional power through an interstate transmission system feed to the Mumbai Metropolitan RegionWe have power buthellipWhen asked if they were prepared to meet the challenge Tata Power and Adani Electricity said in addition to embedded generation they had contracted enough supply from outside But when asked how they would bring the additional supply from outside when transmission constraint exists and is not in position to improve anytime soon Tata said the transmission corridor availability to bring power from outside Mumbai was being handled by state transmission utilities ldquoAll support is extended by Tata Power transmissionrdquo it said adding that the company has a diverse generation portfolio with a mix of thermal gas hydro solar and windldquoThe company also has longterm supply contracts from Indonesia wherein the fuel sourcing is optimised to meet any power contingency and rising demand from the consumer Currently there are no transmission constraints in the Mumbai systemrdquo the power firm said Adani Electricity spokesperson said ldquoElectricity consumption is at its peak as everyone tries to beat this unprecedented summer heat While our teams work day and night to meet the rising demand the same comes at a cost Remaining conscious of the same we humbly appeal to our consumers to consume judiciously and keep electricity bills in check this summerrdquoThere was no official response from the state transmission company but a senior officer said the utility was in the process of updating infrastructure despite facing financial challenges3750 MWAverage demand of power in the city last week1037Rise in cityrsquos power consumption compared to last year