“Total energy available is 29,147 mn units; surplus power to be used for power trading to reduce Gridco’s losses”
Based on the demand of power distribution companies in the state, the energy requirement of Odisha is pegged at 25,468 million units (MU) for 2016-17.
Gridco, the state-run bulk power purchaser, has projected this power requirement in its annual revenue requirement (ARR), submitted to the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC). The projection consists of a sale of 25,468 MU by GRIDCO to distribution companies and emergency and backup power sale to NALCO and IMFA.
The total power purchase cost of Gridco is arrived at Rs 8,397.79 crore for 29,147.42 MU. It aims to purchase 20,883.62 MU from the state sector while 8744.22 MU will come from the central utilities.
Out of the total demand of distribution companies, Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu) requires 8,905 MU, North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Orissa Limited (Nesco) 5,583 MU, Western Electricity Supply Company of Orissa Limited (Wesco) 7,450 MU and Southern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Limited (Southco) 3,530 MU.
With transmission loss pegged at 978.91 MU (3.70 per cent), the energy procurement will be 26,456.91MU, Gridco said.
The total energy available is 29,147.42 MU. The estimated surplus energy of 2,690.52 MU will be utilised for power trading to reduce Gridco’s losses.
The bulk power trader has projected its annual revenue requirement at Rs 9227.67 crore before the regulator at a proposed bulk supply price (BSP) of 362.32 paise per unit charged to the distribution companies.
It may be noted that as per the Electricity Act, 2003, the electricity tariff is determined on annual basis by OERC for generation, transmission and supply of electricity considering commercial viability and operational efficiency of the utilities.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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