Bengaluru: Karnataka is on the verge of power crisis with five electricity supply companies (ESCOMS) and Karnataka Power Corporation (KPCL) has not yet paid RS IDR 1,600 crore contributions to coal supply and renewable energy companies.
Previously in a week, TII reported that Karnataka owed RS 1,000 Crore to the center of power fees.
Failure to clean the combined arrears of RS 2,600 Crore can encourage Karnataka – which survives in coal stocks only 2-3 days – become a deeper energy crisis.
A senior officer from the Department of Energy said the state had RS1,000 crore waiting for the bill with coal supply companies and 600 Crore Rs with renewable energy supply companies.
“This contribution must be cleaned in the stages at regular intervals.
Otherwise we can face a severe power deficit in the coming months.” The source said the state had not paid the ESCOM for free power supplied to farmers.
A department officer said, “Our crisis arises from 6-7 hours of free power given to farmers.
This forces ESCOM to introduce taxes in other segments to restore as much as possible.
Because contributions have accumulated for some time, it is not easy to clean it quickly.
“Rush to secure more coal rokes with limited coal supplies, companies such as Singareni Colliaries (SCCL) from Telangana have been looking for cleaning fees at the beginning.
The source said three thermal power stations in Karnataka – Ballari, Yermarus and Raichur – have stock only 2-3 days and there is in a hurry to secure more coal rakes.
Last week, the state government paid SCCL RS 350 Crore so that coal supply was not affected.
The renewable energy company backlog also accumulates in the state with Hubli and Gulbarga electricity supply company that has contributions because of the large capacity of solar energy plants established in the region.
Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) Managing Director P Rajendra Cholan said the company was also waiting for the bill, but they were mostly in disputes.
“Our monthly renewable energy bill is in the range of Rs 600 Crore to the 700 Crore Hospital which is being cleaned since Bescom generates more than Rs 2,300 crores.
Greater concerns come from the northern part of the state that has a higher retarded energy section,” said Cholan.
Energy Minister V Sunil Kumar said the coal situation was normal with regular payments and added that the thermal station in the country had received 2-3 rakes every day.