Summer electricity crisis: Here's how Power Ministry plans to ensure adequate supply

Load shedding and regular power cuts are an age-old problem in India during the summer.

To ensure that people don't face electricity problems this season, the power ministry announced today that it is taking several measures to meet the demand.

According to a Reuters report, the ministry said in a statement that it has asked companies to avoid load shedding during the summer months.  
Load-shedding became a cause for concern last year when the country's power plants ran dangerously short of coal supply.

Extended heatwaves added insult to injury as power cuts became rampant and work came to a halt in a number of manufacturing units.

This summer, and in the upcoming years also, India runs the risk of nighttime power cuts as delays in adding new hydropower and coal-powered capacity can worsen the country's ability to address the power crisis. 

With this view in mind, the ministry said it has directed all imported coal-based plants that they would have to run at full capacity from March 16.

The ministry has also asked power companies to finish maintenance work well in advance to avoid disruptions in April and May, when soaring temperatures will lead to more electricity demand.

It further said that gas-based power would be used to meet any peak demand.

Meanwhile, the ministry has also instructed hydro plants to optimise water utilisation for better electricity supply starting next month.  

The power ministry assured that 2,920 megawatts of electricity would be made available through new coal-based plants, which are scheduled to start their operations by the end of March. 

However, the construction of new coal-fired plants is slow in India.

Data from the Central Electricity Authority revealed that the construction of 26 coal-fired plants with a combined capacity of 16.8 gigawatts is more than a year behind schedule, while some of them are facing delays of as many as 10 years.           

The ministry also assured that the Railway board has ensured the availability of enough rakes for transporting the commodity. 

The ministry estimated that the peak electricity demand is expected to reach 229 GW in April.