The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Aperc) has selected four gas-based power plants to make use of their idle capacity for generating additional power using liquified natural gas (LNG) under the expensive power supply scheme (EPSS) proposed by the discoms.

The EPSS is meant to supply electricity to the willing consumers, mostly from the industrial sector, beyond the existing supply restrictions at the rates outside the normal tariff.

India’s dream of providing clean gas-based power stations is turning sour. Three gas-based power plants, including Pragati, Bawana and Rithala in the NCR region, with a combined capacity of over 1,730 MW, have literally “run out of gas”.

With ministry of petroleum and natural gas sources confirming that India’s gas output is expected to fall by 35 per cent in this fiscal year and another 12 per cent between 2013-14, the situation is expected to become alarming this summer.