Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The state government has decided to borrow power from three states through power banking mode to meet the demand during the peak period this year. The move is aimed at avoiding the problems faced during the last two summer seasons.
“At present, the demand during the peak hour is around 4,100 MW and we are able meet it. However, after mid April the demand will go up to 4,500 MW. To meet the demand, we have decided to draw 500 MW power from three states through the power banking option,” energy minister Pranab Prakash Das said here Tuesday.
The state government has decided to draw the power from Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. The minister said these states have agreed to provide power to the state till June 15.
After June 15, the state would able to generate surplus power and the surplus power would be distributed to the three states, he said. “The power would be returned to these states during the monsoon season when our water reservoir levels pick up,” Das said.
Orissa, which was a power surplus state for several years till two years ago, is now facing a huge power crisis in summer. This is largely because of the deficit rainfall, the increase in demand and transmission loss.