More power stations in state

BANGALORE: Power consumers can expect higher quality and consistent supply of electricity in the days to come. The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTC) has chalked out plans to ensure automatic control of electricity supply and its fluctuations between 2,000 stations across the state by April 2009.
All information about electricity supply and distribution will be fed into a centralised system in Bangalore that will also allow control of supply ��� officials will be able to ensure better power supply to areas facing shortage.Computerised control will ensure better management of power supply.
KPTC director Prathap Kumar told a gathering of officials at a workshop on grid security and power that the corporatin was expanding its automation programme this year to include an additional 1,000 stations and would be completed by April 2009. If the centralised information management and power control system at Bangalore works well, similar centres would be set up in other cities in the state. Work has also begun on a disaster recovery centre that will be completed by March 2009.
PowerGrid director Dr P K Shetty said radical reforms were going on in the power sector and plans were afoot to increase per capita consumption of power by 2012. Peak demand in the country was 1,50,000 MW, while installed capacity was 1,38,000 MW ��� the gap between demand and supply during peak load was 13 to 14 per cent and around 9 to 10 per cent during non-peak load. It was this gap between demand and supply that was causing fluctuations, Shetty said.
There were also capacity addition plans to the tune of 78,500 MW during the 11th Plan period, and also to improve transmission network across regions to have a secure grid and safe grid.
V Ramakrishna, member, Central Electricity Authority, made a passionate plea for changes in the Indian Electricity Act which was archaic, going back to 1885. Litigation and ancient laws made it difficult to establish electricity lines on the ground. There was need to change the legal atmosphere, he said.
Lok Ayukta Santhosh Hegde, who inaugurated the workshop, said the ultimate objective of all power utilities must be to improve electricity supply to the needy and poor.
"I have seen by experience how bad the situation is for poor people. I appeal to your conscience to use all your capacities to ensure better electricity supply to them. The larger good and social objective is important as it is evident that no one can lead an easy life without electricity."