Dehradun: Uttarakhand is facing a severe power crisis as rising temperatures have pushed electricity demand far beyond available supply. On March 1, the state’s demand was 38 million units, but by Thursday it had climbed to 45 million units.
In contrast, only 23 million units are available, forcing Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) to impose power cuts across several districts.
Gas Plants Shut Down
A major factor behind the crisis is the shutdown of gas-based power plants in Kashipur. The 214 MW Shravanti and Gama Company plants are not operating due to the Israel-Iran war, which has disrupted international gas supplies. Officials say that if gas were purchased from the market, generation costs would exceed Rs 10 per unit, making it unviable.
State and Central Supply
Hydropower projects in the state are generating about 9 million units, while the central pool is supplying around 13 million units. Together, this adds up to only 23 million units. To bridge the gap, UPCL is purchasing about 7 million units from the open market. However, electricity prices on the Indian Energy Exchange have touched nearly Rs 10 per unit, making it difficult to procure sufficient power.
Power Cuts in Homes and Industries
The shortage is being felt most in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, where rural areas are facing daily outages of two to two-and-a-half hours. Smaller towns are experiencing cuts of one to one-and-a-half hours. Industrial units, especially those connected to steel furnaces, are also facing outages of around two hours, affecting production capacity.
PPA Hurdles
UPCL had signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to buy 500 MW of electricity, but due to technical issues, 350 MW could not be supplied. The Regulatory Commission has also put a stay on the remaining 150 MW, requiring fresh approval before implementation.
Administration’s Efforts
UPCL Managing Director Anil Kumar said every effort is being made to meet demand, but warned that if demand continues to rise, the situation could worsen. The corporation is relying on market purchases and central pool supplies, but the gap between demand and availability remains significant.
With rising heat and limited supply, Uttarakhand’s power crisis is deepening. Unless gas plants resume operations and additional power sources are secured, residents and industries may continue to face outages in the coming weeks.