Grid congestion suffocating EB

CHENNAI: Congestion in the electricity transmission grid has made purchase of additional power from open market difficult, contributing to the increase in the unscheduled power cuts in many parts of Tamil Nadu.According to sources, the TANGEDCO is finding it difficult to bring more electricity into the State to tide over the power shortage as the transmission corridor is too congested.This is due to several factors, including significant purchases by Kerala. “Kerala normally does not buy power from outside. Now, they have also started buying. Several factors, including heavy purchase by other states, have intensified grid congestion making power evacuation a Herculean task,” an official said.Even from Gujarat, where the EB had signed up for 500 MW of power, TN could only get 200 to 235 MW. In the North Chennai Thermal Power Station, a 210 MW unit is not generating power due to technical glitches currently. Factors such as these, have led to a rise in power cuts in many parts of the State, officials pointed out.