and Industry, Coimbatore
Press Release
August 6, 2009: Unscheduled Power Cuts
Our Chamber strongly protests the unscheduled power cuts, and disconnection of power supply to factories for minor violation during Peak Hours resorted to by TNEB.
It may be recalled that TNEB had enforced a 40 percent cut on both Maximum Demand and energy for HT Industries, which was reduced to 30 percent on 26th May 09, and further to 20 percent on 14th June 09, citing improved wind generation as the reason. However in reality the unscheduled power cuts have increased in the last 10 days.
Hon’ble Minister for Electricity had announced that Neyveli Lignite Corporation had increased its power generation and is making available additional power to Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and also in view of the improved hydel generation, power situation was manageable. However the power situation has detoriated resulting in unscheduled power cuts.
In view of the strict enforcement of stoppage of factories during Peak Hours between 6 pm and 10 pm and scheduled power cut of 2 hours, factories are unable to use even the allocated units, and in almost all factories units have lapsed, during July.
TNEB is also not allowing grace period when the peak hour restrictions are enforced, when in many units the MD readings shoot up due to technical problems like capacitor banks not being switched off. Due to this TNEB is resorting to power disconnection for 48 hours.
Industries are already reeling under the impact of recession, and raising costs, and such actions like disconnection will affect the working of industries to a large extent.
Our Chamber appeals to the Hon’ble Minister for Electricity Mr. Arcot N. Veeraswamy to give instructions to the field units to ensure uninterrupted power supply, and also allow allowance when enforcing peak hour power cut, and ignore minor violations. Our Chamber has already written to the Minister that MD charges should not be charged for the duration of the Peak Hour cut and scheduled power cuts. We appeal to the Minister to consider this genuine demand of the industry.
Mahendra Ramdas
President