Hydropower Plants: over 2000 megawatts to be added to grid from June onwards, Supreme Court told

The Supreme Court was informed on Saturday that 2057MW additional power would be added to the national grid when hydropower plants begin to operate at full capacity of 6733MW from June to August. Managing Director National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of distribution companies (Discos) including Lesco, Fesco, Iesco, Mepco, Pesco, Sepco, Hesco and Qesco submitted joint compliance statement in pursuance of the apex court directives on the implementation of its orders for equitable electricity distribution.
The report stated that in compliance with the orders of Supreme Court on May 31, 2013, subsequent to hearing of the case HRC No 14392/2013 a video conference was held on the same day with the CEOs of Discos. It added that the video con was chaired by the Minister of Water & Power. It was attended, among others, by Additional Secretary (Water & Power) Managing Director (Pepco)/(NTDC), GM NPCC, Chairman Irsa and Chief Engineer Hydel.
The report maintained that orders of the Court regarding equitable load management amongst all categories of the consumers including domestic and industrial were conveyed to the Discos'' heads. They were vigorously directed to implement a fair, justful and equitable load shedding, irrespective of status of consumers besides improving their vigilance and monitoring of electricity system. It said it was also made clear in the light of apex court order that all CEOs of Discos were bound by the court directives "which shall be implemented without any exception."
The report further confirmed that in pursuance of the court orders of May 31 in the instant matter MD Pepco and NTDC communicated to all concerned during the course of the day for strict compliance. It apprised the court that power generation from WAPDA Hydropower stations had started improving due to rising water inflows in Rivers Indus and Jhelum, saying releases from Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs fixed by IRSA had significantly increased.
"During the last ten days (21st May to 30th May, 2013), hydel peak share in the total system generation has increased from 4674 MW to 5099 MW (425 MW increase)," the report said. It stated that the situation will further improve during the months June, July and August when hydel stations would be operating at their full capacity of 6733 MW, adding that total power generation was at a level of about 12500 MW.
The court was also apprised that three IPPs with a total capacity of 600MW - Halmore, Liberty and Hubco Narowal - were not on the national grid because of various reasons, saying furnace oil and gas supplies were being ensured to maintain the level of generation where supply and demand gap was minimised. "Extended forced load shedding resulting from tripping of Guddu, Uch, Foundation and Habibullah Coastal Power Plants has almost been controlled," the report concluded.