Power outages a concern in Tamilnadu     CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is set to face longer power outages following a decision by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) to increase the load shedding period from two hours to three hours every day. Chennai has not seen scheduled power cuts until now, but will face an-hour-long power cut every day now. The new schedule would come into effect from Friday. The TANGEDCO decision comes in the face of an increasing power deficit in the State, combined with rising deficits in other States. “This has created a situation where Tamil Nadu cannot purchase power from these States. Even the power purchase for Rs 50 crore per day has proved insufficient to meet the demand. With no other options available, it has been decided to increase the power outage,” read a statement from the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation.

 

The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation is expecting this acute shortage to continue for a few weeks. The corporation has asked the people to put up with the cuts as it was expecting the yield from wind energy sources to increase in the coming weeks.
Speaking to Express, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) Chairman and Managing Director C P Singh said it would be difficult to speculate on how long the extended outage would be in place. “It will depend on a number of environmental factors. How intense the summer is will also play a role,” he said. Asked if there was some sort of a roadmap to make up for the power deficit in the State, Singh said, “There is no roadmap. We have exhausted all our sources. Power is just not available. The extended power cuts will reduce the deficit from 3,500 MW to 1,500 MW.” The TNEB Managing Director also assured that there would be no unannounced power cuts and that outage schedules would be adhered to. The outage would also take place only during the daytime, to avoid increased inconvenience to the people.