Is India’s power sector, dogged by supply overhang and debt for long, finally showing early signs of revival? The demand-supply situation is improving with tapering capacity additions and accelerated retirements of old capacities. This also reflects in the improving plant load factor (PLF), or capacity utilisation in FY18, and a rebound in merchant tariffs. From their 2017 lows, of ?2.5 last July, tariffs ha...

BATHINDA: Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has to pay Rs 446.27 crore to private thermal power plants in Punjab for a period of 10 months (April 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018) for undrawn power (not drawing any electricity).  As per the power purchase agreements (PPA) made with private plants during the previous SAD-BJP government, PSPCL has to pay to private players even if th...

CHANDIGARH : There is no reason for panic about Bhakra reservoir level as past data shows that whenever Bhakra was depleted to 1490 or lower it was followed by filling to 1650 or more while in only one instance the Bhakra filled up to only 1601 feet , said Padamjit Singh A retired PSEB chief engineer. The water level was going down as inflow was less as compared to outflow before the monsoon season ...

CHANDIGARH: Government of India has failed to fill vacancies at level of Chairman Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and Member Hydro, thereby infringing Section 70 of the Electricity Act. All India power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) in a letter to Prime Minister and Power Minister has demanded that government should fulfill its obligation to implement the statute and fill the vacant posts in CEA as mandated...

Ahmedabad: In a move aimed to provide some respite to the beleaguered power projects of companies like Adani Power, Tata Power and Essar Power, Gujarat government has decided to form a high powered committee that will offer solutions for imported coal fired power plants that are underutilised due to viability issues. The committee chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice R. K. Agrawal will look into the ...

Any move to corporatise power distribution companies (Discoms) will have to be implemented only after reforming the electricity regulatory commissions. Speaking to BusinessLine at the sidelines of the Conference of Power and Renewable Energy Ministers of States and Union Territories, state government officials said that the profits of Discoms can improve only if regulators stop trimming their margins. ...

As India transitions from peak summer heat to initial monsoon months, a constant problem large part of urban India has to deal with is power supply failures. Announced and unannounced power cuts accompany every heat wave, the first shower, and strong gusts of monsoon winds across the country with uncanny predictability. India boasts of an installed power base of over 343 gigawatts. Indian power generation capacity...

CHANDIGARH: All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has demanded discussion on proposed changes in the Electricity (amendment) bill before putting it in Parliament for discussion. Union Power Minister has informed on June 18 that the draft Electricity Act is likely to be circulated for comments this week, provides for separation of distribution infrastructure ownership from power supply licenses and pena...

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has approved the proposed 100 per cent stake sale of Reliance Infrastructure's (RInfra's) integrated Mumbai powerbusiness to AdaniTransmission (ATL), an official said on Thursday. Following the MERC's clearance, the transaction, with a consideration value estimated at Rs 18,800 crore, is expected to be closed in July...

Coal India Ltd (CIL) will develop its first-ever thermal power plant in the country in Odisha, a top company official said. The project will be implemented through CIL’s subsidiary, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL).   The power plant, which will have a capex of ?13,000 crore and a capacity of 1,600 MW (2x800 MW ), will come up at Sundergarh district. Power producer NTPC Ltd will be a joint venture partn...