Ranchi, March 28: Technical snags forced a shutdown at Patratu Thermal Power Station in Ramgarh, plunging the capital and 11 districts into darkness today. The situation is unlikely to improve in the next four days.

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) on Saturday hiked power tariff by 30 per cent after keeping it unchanged for a decade. The last tariff hike was effected in 2001-02.

As per the new tariff order, the average bulk supply tariff (BST) has been increased from Rs 1.22 per unit to Rs 1.60 per unit. The new power tariff will come into effect from April 1.

With increase in power demand from the agriculture sector and lower water level in the Bhakra and Pong Dam reservoirs, there has been a sudden power crisis in Punjab. According to Punjab State Electricity Board officials, unscheduled power cuts are unavoidable because of the regulatory steps taken by the board for ensuring the security of the northern grid.

Mumbai: You may no longer have to wait in long queues to pay your electricity bills thanks to the prepaid energy cards the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Ltd (MSEDCL) plans to introduce.

G.K. Nair

Ever-increasing demand for power without corresponding expansion in hydel power generation capacity in the State is gradually pushing up the state's dependence on thermal power with the ratio to touch 70:30 in the very near future, according senior sources in the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is on the look-out for a Designated Operational Entity (DOE) for validation of the three small hydro-electric pilot projects in the State being taken up for implementation under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to provide, in first tranche, a sum of $60.3 million to the Union Government for funding Assam Power Sector Enhancement Programme, according to a release issued by Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB).

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forty -three towns in the state will benefit from a Rs 288-crore Central scheme meant to strengthen the power distribution sector and reduce technical and commercial losses by 15 percent. KSEB has been allocated the scheme under the Restructured-Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (RAPDRP).

Sindri, Feb. 5: Simmering anger of Sindri residents over the lack of electricity connections spilled onto the streets today as they put up a road blockade in front of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board

The Chandrapur Thermal Power Station (CTPS), which was closed down in 1999, will be revived in joint venture within the next two years and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) and a consortium of three private companies in presence of Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi today.

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