No power cut for Mumbai at least for a decade
Mumbaikars will continue to enjoy 24×7, 365 days of uninterrupted power supply for at least a decade despite demand going up with a CAGR of 3-4%. This is due to installation of additional transmission lines by two private power players, Tata Power and Reliance Infrastructure.
At present, Mumbaikars consume 3,300 Mw daily of which 2,200 Mw is met by Tata Power and R-Infra jointly while 1,000 Mw is brought from outside the city. The peak demand for Mumbai system was recorded at 3,600 Mw during 2014-15 which was met by power generated by Tata Power and R-Infra and purchases made outside Mumbai.
Tata power has a consumer base of 600,000 while R-Infra distributes power to 3 million and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport or BEST supplies to 900,000 consumers in the city. Recent completion of Tata Power’s Padghe-Vikhroli transmission line and additional transmission lines between Kalwa and Salsette helped flow of an additional 500 Mw to the city.
R-Infra has filed a petition with the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) with a plea to amend its transmission licence with a provision of inter-connection on its existing transmission line between Dahanu and Mumbai. This will pave way for the additional power flow of 1,000 Mw from outside the state into the city. R-Infra expects to complete the proposed work in two years.
Under existing transmission licence, R-Infra is able to evacuate power from its Dahanu power station in Thane district to the Mumbai city. The amendment to the transmission licence will help R-Infra to bring power from anywhere in the country.
Consumer representative at MERC Ashok Pendse told Business Standard: “Amount of power that can be generated in Mumbai is limited due to pollution control norms. Increase in city’s demand will have to be met from power from outside the city. What is necessary is increase in transmission capacity mainly by Tata Power and R-Infra.”
R-Infra in its petition said the inter-connection will also improve reliability of existing transmission system. The proposed transmission lines would strengthen the Mumbai system by reducing load on critical 220 kV AareyBorivli line and would bring 220 kV Saki EHV station in the ring system which is currently is otherwise in radial system.
Further, R-Infra has urged MERC to grant amended transmission licence for 25 years.
On its part, Tata Power Transmission has done planning till 2026 to cater to Mumbai’s load growth. In line with this, Tata Power has started work on installation of 400 Kv station at Vikhroli and 400 Kv Transmission lines from Kharghar/Nagothane to Vikhroli. The company has invested nearly Rs 1,000 crore in the last 3-4 years.
