Discom braces for higher power demand in future

The southern discom is gearing up to meet additional power demand even of the magnitude of 3,500 MW in the near future, as against the record demand of 2,950 MW recorded in AprilMay this year.

The load increase on existing substations is causing frequent outages though the state has sufficient power, officials said. Towards this end, the discom is enhancing infrastructure support including setting up 20 new sub-stations in the GHMC limits at an estimated investment of `150 crore. The new substations are scheduled to be operational by next summer.

The TS Southern Power Distribution Company Limited has 423 substations (33/11KV) in nine circles of the GHMC.

“Work on eight sub-stations is in progress. We will have 20 more new sub-stations soon. This will ease the additional burden on existing substations. We are in the process of setting up new infrastructure so that we can meet any demand even it goes up to 3,500 MW,” Mr J. Srinivas Reddy, director (operations), southern discom, told this newspaper. The energy demand in GHMC rose to a record level of 67 million units in May.

To mitigate shortage of land, the southern discom is planning to set up four indoor substations and the remaining 16 normal substations in Ranga Reddy district.

Officials said that the outskirts of the city was developing very fast.

With increasing urbanisation, the energy demand was unexpectedly rising during summer months. “We expect 75 million units of energy demand next summer,” said an official.

The energy demand in the state soared over 10,000 MW in the March-May period earlier this year.

The average demand is in the range of 8,000-9,000 MW.

The new substations are coming up at New Bowenpally, Madannapet, Arundhati Colony, Srinagar Colony, Kondapur, Ottinagulapalli, Pet Bashirabad, Cyber City, Janapriya Township, TNGOs Colony, Ranga Reddy Town, Pedda Charlapalli, Prashantinagar, Snehita Hills, Prajay Properties, Vadio Huda, Hanumannnagar Hills, AS Rao Nagar, Nallagandla and Pragatinagar.

The discom is enhancing infrastructure support including setting up 20 new substations in the GHMC limits at an estimated investment of `150 crore.

The new substations are scheduled to be operational by next summer.