Shimla, June 10 : Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board claimed that its daily power generation capacity increased by 90 percent owing to fast thawing of Glaciers which is also expected to increase in forthcoming monsoon season after unprecedented heat wave in this summer season, spokesperson of HPSEB said.
The Board said production expected to increase above 90 percent in all private and government sector power projects in the state which is much higher compared to last year.
This is due to fast melting of glaciers in the next few days as discharge or flow of water likely to increase in the rivers and streams. Spokesperson said it was during winter season ,when the power generation in Himachal is reduced to half, during that time free electricity is withdrawn from the banking system. State supply around 140 lakh units of power per day to banking system during the lean season compared to peak season in the summer and rainy season.
Generally, there is surplus production in the state between 15th June and 15th September as state per day generation reaches to 530 lakh units some time. It is this period of generation cycle when there is surplus power producer good revenue by selling the power to the open market.
Spokesperson said currently state is generating up to 360 lakh units per day compared to 280 to 300 Lakh units of last years in summer.
Retired Chief Engineer from Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited Manmohan Verma said the unprecedented heatwave increasing the average production upto 330 lakh units as the plant factors goes more than 100 per cent. He said plant factors means that any turbine having capacity of 250 mw power production not only give full 250 mw power but the enough and smooth discharge of water level exceed the plant factors slightly high to its capacity.
On Tuesday, this record has gone up to 360 lakh units. Most of power projects undergo thorough lean power generation in the winter with freezing of glacial bodies, river and riveluts however in summer season when temperature rose with heatwave and rising of mercury discharge of water from glaciers increased many folds.
This increase in the water discharge remained high in the rainy season upto September. It is expected that as soon as the rains start state hydro power project would generate surplus production . It was during this period of the year when Himachal sell this surplus electricity to sell it to the neighboring states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh.
As per the power purchase agreement, state has already started supply of electricity to the power banking sector to further supply it to neighboring states. Reforming the power trade with states, Himachal would not give free power being provided to many neighboring states every year free in the winter season. State has potential to produce around 12000 mw hydro power.

Uni inputs