Why Summer Power Cuts Are Back In Maharashtra

What happened?

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited has gone in for load-shedding in the state, in some areas for even up to eight hours. This is due to the growing gap between the demand and supply of power.

Many parts of rural Nashik, Ahmednagar and different parts of Marathwada including Aurangabad have been subjected to load-shedding. However, areas like Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, and Pune have been spared so far. This is due to fewer distribution losses and higher recovery of power dues in these sections, according to this report.

Why are some areas being singled out for power cuts?

This is reported as part of the MSEDCL strategy to implement a feeder-wise load-shedding system in areas where the transmission and distribution losses are more than 60 per cent.

Feeders through which consumers are provided electricity are grouped into different categories based on revenue collection efficiency and power thefts. MSEDCL authorities pointed out that the customer base (feeder wise) has been categorised from A-G depending on the distribution and commercial losses. Feeders with the worst records have been classified in categories G1, G2 and G3.

Big picture

Maharashtra is an industrial state and the state's economy was recovering from the debilitating impact of the Covid-induced lockdowns. That is one reason for the increased demand for power.

Secondly, like in most of the country, it is summer in Maharashtra as well.

With both these factors combined, power demand in Maharashtra has shot up and on some days recently even crossed 28,500 MW, compelling the MSEDC to undertake load-shedding.

What is the government doing about it?

In a statement on 11 April, the MSEDCL appealed to consumers to use 'power sparingly'.

Apart from that, according to this report, Maharashtra plans to buy 760 MW of power from Gujarat at higher rates. Additionally, the state has also approved a proposal allowing MSEDCL to purchase power from private players till June 15, until the power generation situation improves in the state.