BHUBANESWAR: Central transmission utility __ Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) __ has served a notice to the State to regulate power from October 22 if the State Government refuses to pay the enhanced transmission tariff.The notice came at a time when the State is readying to celebrate a subdued Diwali amidst large-scale devastation by the recent floods. As reconstruction works are in full swing, the State needs more power. The Corporation has asked the eastern region load dispatching centre (ERLDC) to regulate 15 per cent of power from the Central share from October 22 midnight for six months. The decision comes when a petition filed by State power trading utility __ Gridco __ against the revised transmission tariff is pending before the Centre Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).The State’s share of power from the Central sector is 1084 MW. It will lose about 160 MW of power daily from October 22. This will seriously affect power situation in the State where hydro generation is low due to poor water storage in the major reservoirs. Besides, the average demand of power is increasing due to festive season and unusually hot condition.As per the CERC (Sharing of inter-state transmission charges and losses) Regulation, 2010, wheeling charges are computed on the basis of distance, direction and quantum of power supply. Earlier, the transmission charges were levied under the ‘postage stamp method’ in which cost per mega watt of power was equal for all the beneficiary states in a particular region.The new method, which is known as point of connection (PoC) charge, should have been beneficial to Orissa as the Central thermal power-generating stations are located within the State and the distance is very short. However, the new method has proved to be expensive to the State while it is benefiting northern states, including Delhi, which are far away from generating stations.‘’Under the PoC method of billing, Gridco is now required to pay an additional ` 60 crore per annum which is likely to jump to Rs. 120 crore in future,’’ said Gridco’s Director (Finance) BP Mohapatra. The enhanced transmission charge will put an additional burden of 20 paise per unit on the consumers of the State.Instead of compensating coal-bearing states, the Centre is subsidising the states which are getting green power and free from pollution and other social problems, he said.
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