India Likely to See Over 5 Per Cent Power Shortage in 2014-15: Report

India is projected to see a power shortage of 5.1 per cent compared to demand in the current financial year with the southern and north-eastern regions anticipated to witness high deficits.

"A capacity addition of 17,800 MW during the year 2014-15 comprising 14,958 MW of thermal, 842 MW of hydro and 2,000 MW of nuclear power stations has been considered," according to the latest annual 'Load Generation Balance Report' by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the planning body for the power sector.

CEA comes under the Power Ministry.

According to CEA, the country is expected to see a power shortage of 5.1 per cent this fiscal year (2014-15) even as the deficit is projected to be very high in the southern region.

The report said the "country is expected to experience a peak shortage of 2 per cent and energy shortage of 5.1 per cent, despite very high shortages likely to be experienced by Southern Region".

Going by the projections, the shortfall in the southern region would be 12.7 per cent; north eastern - 17.4 per cent; eastern - 3.4 per cent, and northern - 3.1 per cent.

However, the western region is expected to see a marginal surplus of 0.3 per cent.

Energy deficit/surplus has been calculated on the scale of million units while peak deficit/surplus is in terms of megawatt (MW).

The anticipated power supply scenario for the current fiscal year has been prepared after considering electricity available from various stations in operation, fuel availability as well as anticipated water availability at hydro stations.

"The peaking shortages are likely to prevail in the northern, southern and north-eastern regions to the tune of 1.4 per cent, 22.2 per cent and 12.9 per cent, respectively," the report noted.

"Surplus energy is anticipated in the order of 1 per cent and 14.5 per cent in the eastern and western Regions, respectively."

For this fiscal year, CEA said the gross energy generation in the country has been assessed as 1,023 billion units from the power plants in operation and those expected to be commissioned during this period.

The assessment has been made in consultation with generating companies as well as State Electricity Boards (SEBs) and also took into account the proposed maintenance schedule of the units during the fiscal year.

"There would be surplus energy in some of the states of Northern Region having predominantly hydro systems during the monsoon months while shortage conditions would prevail during winter season," the report said.

The government is already working on ways to improve overall power situation in the country.