SERC initiates suo-moto proceedings to seek details on augmentation of distribution system

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 11: Unbelievable it may sound but it is a fact that a road map for capacity addition of 9036 Mega Watt hydel generation in the 12th and 13th Plan has been prepared but there is no focus on framing action plan for creation of additional/augmentation of intra-state and inter-state transmission/transformation system for evacuation of the power. Taking note of the seriousness of the issue, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) has initiated suo-moto proceedings to seek the details in this regard from State Power Development Department, State Power Development Corporation, Chenab Valley Power Corporation, National Hydroelectric Projects Corporation and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.
According to the official sources, under Sub-Section 4 of Section 3 of J&K Electricity Act, 2010, the Government is required to prepare the State Electricity Plan in accordance with the State Electricity Policy and notify such plan once in five years.
Similarly, under Sub-Section (1) C and Sub-Section (2) of Section 71 of Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Act, 2010 the State Electricity Regulatory Commission can facilitate intra-state transmission and wheeling of electricity and advise the Government on matters concerning generation, transmission, distribution and trading of electricity.
By exercising powers conferred under these Sub-Sections, the SERC vide communication No.JKSERC/Secy/532-33 dated August 19, 2011 asked the State Government to notify the State Electricity Plan. The Commission had to send two reminders dated May 24, 2012 and September 30, 2013 as there was no response from the State on notifying the Electricity Plan along with the other policy documents.
“But even reminders have failed to wake the concerned authorities from deep slumber and till date needful has not been done despite the fact that such a plan is imperative in the light of the fact that all out efforts are being made to harness available power potential in the State and several projects are constructed”, sources regretted.
“It sounds astonishing that a road map for capacity addition of 9036.55 Mega Watt hydel generation in the 12th and 13th Plan has been prepared but no focus has so far been paid towards transmission and distribution network”, sources said, adding “this is despite the fact that benefits of the capacity addition road-map cannot be reaped unless adequate transmission and distribution network required for evacuation and utilization of this capacity is planned and constructed in such a phased manner so that the system is actually available for evacuation and wheeling of the power well before commissioning of the generation projects”.
“Since the quantum of generation likely to be available by the end of 13th Plan will be much higher than the total peak demand of the State, a large quantity of power will be available for inter-state transmission for which a proper system has to be planned in consultation with central agencies like CEA and PGCIL”, they said.
Taking note of the seriousness of the issue and in the absence of response from the concerned authorities till date, the SERC in exercise of powers conferred on it by the J&K Electricity Act, has initiated suo-moto proceedings to seek the details from the respondents on their plans for capacity addition and augmentation of generation, construction of inter-state and intra-state transmission systems for evacuation, transmission and utilization of the envisaged generation besides to seek details of plans on augmentation and construction of adequate distribution system for delivering power to the consumers across the State as per demand.
The Commission has directed the PDD, SPDC, Chenab Valley Power Corporation, NHPC, PGCIL NR-II besides energy development agencies of State (Science and Technology Department) to submit the details within a period of eight weeks—by or before January 31, 2014. It has also sought the status of constitution of task force as per the decisions taken in 68th meeting of Board of Directors of JKSPDC on assessing the requirement of power infrastructure.

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