Today's News Links 30.5.2007

Oh, boy, we're in trouble .. the PM is "worried"

"Worried PM calls meeting on power with state chief ministers"
http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/28001906/Worried-PM-calls-meeting-on-po.html

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I had raised this issue at the MahaVitaran public hearing. The MSEB network (all 3 cos) had projected a spend of over Rs.62,000 crores in the three-year MYT period. Yet after all of this Genco stated that its power generation capacity would increase only 8% !! And Vitaran stated that there would still be 6-7 hr power cuts across Maharashtra. They also projected the T&D loss to come down (across the network) from approx 40% to approx 35% only ! Now MERC seems to have woken up ....

"MERC wants MSEB to phase out Capex programme"
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=373667&ssid=50&sid=BUS

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Interestingly, this next article has reference to the "Dahanu expansion project" .. When did REL get the clearance ?? They haven't yet complied with Supreme Court's ruling on the FGD plant for reducing existing environmental pollution ...

"Reliance Energy eyes coal mines abroad"
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods_Svs/Reliance_Energy_eyes_coal_mines_abroad/articleshow/2081601.cms

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And here's great gyaan from the Delhi CM...

"Delhi dependent on neighbours, says Sheila"
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070529/delhi.htm

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I came across this interesting piece on Wind Power....
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/11/350013.shtml

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And here's our own CM mouthing more data ...

"Maharashtra could face 11,000 MW power shortage"
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Maharashtra_could_face_11000_MW_power_shortage/articleshow/2080766.cms

Bro vs. Bro - Part 2 .. or 3 .. or ??

"RIL to set up Power Plant in Baramati", is what the Economic Times (Mumbai Ed) page 3 reported on 28.5.2007.

RIL is setting up a (captive) power plant in Baramati, Maharashtra.

51% of the power will be used captively while 49% can be made available to the State Grid.

How's that for by-passing the non-compete clause with bro, Anil??

Reminds me of MAD comics' "Spy vs Spy" ....

PM's Remarks at the CMs Conference on Power

Here is what the PM had to say.

A lot of words.
Too many (oft heard) promises.
Not enough concrete action on the street.

Opening remarks here:
http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=28277

Closing remarks here:
http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=28298

They don't look very different do they ?

The opening remarks had a few harsh words on the Regulators which were softened in the closing !

Rest of it is pretty much "babu"-speak (read:same thing twisted around).

Talking of "Babus" .. here's Dr. Ahluwalia's remarks:
http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=28297

If the PM has no control (or very little control) over what's happening .. what hope is there for the rest of us??

Why is HE upset that things are not happening ! If HE can't get it done .. who the hell is running this country ??

Maybe we should empower the President a lot more ... if only we can get Dr. Kalam to agree to stand again ...

Today's News Links

Rs 197-cr MERC boost to cut T&D losses in city
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=238040

REL's Dadri project to be reviewed: Mayawati
http://www.ndtvprofit.com/homepage/storybusinessnew.asp?id=38481&template=&cache=5/25/2007%206:14:43%20PM

IHT reports on India's Power struggle ..

The International Herald Tribune featured this article .. also reproduced by MINT, yesterday.

Interestingly it says the national shortfall is only 14% (approx 14,000 MW) .. but here the Maharashtra Govt says we have a shortfall of around 6,000 MW .. so the REST of India put together needs only another 8,000 MW ???

Not that I believe the State Govt either - they said that Mumbai has a shortfall and that there would be load shedding this summer ... well, did anyone notice any blackouts ??

Where do these guys get their numbers from ??

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/24/business/sxview.php

Workers go on rampage at Reliance thermal plant

This happened at REL's new Haryana plant - surprisingly reported by NewKerala first ... now that's the power of the media !

http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=33025

Malini Shankar moved out of MERC

Well Deshmukh has finally done it. He has moved Malini Shankar, Secretary MERC, out. She now will be Development Commissioner.

The news item doesn't say who moves in .. but I hope it is someone more sensible.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/Deshmukh_transfers_28_babus_/articleshow/2072945.cms

Madras High Court decision set aside

Ok, I just came across this one and need to find out more, but it sounds very interesting ...

http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?leftnm=3&subLeft=3&chklogin=N&autono=285484&tab=r

Will keep you all posted ..

Mercury in CFLs .. New Problem !!

Well we seem to be out of the frying pan and into the fire ..

Just when we thought we could switch from incandescent bulbs to CFLs, we now have the Cassandras talking of Mercury levels in CFLs being dangerous if CFL-recyling plants do not exist (They DO have a point).

Read related articles here:
http://consciousearth.blogspot.com/2007/05/cfls-mercury-small-problem-thats.html

and here:
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Toxic-Mercury-in-CFL-Bulbs.htm

Received your NEW electricity bills yet ?

For those of you in Mumbai, this is about the time we get our new MERC-approved first MYT-Tariff Bills.

The biggest impact will be felt by the BEST consumers, whose bills will almost DOUBLE !! .. and they didn't even turn up for the Public Hearing ...

REL's small industrial consumers will be pleased that the Fixed Demand Charge is now only above 20kW (26.5 HP) as against the earlier 11.25KW (15 HP).

Also, the Billing Demand will be calculated on 65% of Max Demand hit (as opposed to 100% earlier).

And the rate for Fixed Charge has come down to Rs. 300 per kVA, from Rs. 374 per kVA.

All in all, small industries will get approx 45% LOWER bills (on account of the Fixed Demand itself) and many may actually "escape"the clutches of Fixed Demand by the increase in threshold.

Some reason here to smile !

Residential users, make sure you have only a SINGLE-phase connection. If you have a three-phase connection, get it converted to single-phase. Check your electricity bill, by seeing what is the FIXED charge that you are paying, you will be able to figure out whether you are single-phase or three-phase (Rs. 100 Fixed charge generally means you are in three-phase, unless your consumption is unduly high).

However, the rates have gone up for all suppliers and now the Max rate for units in excess of 500 has crossed Rs. 7 .. so watch your consumption, guys !

The other issue that we fought for .. a parity on the Prompt Payment Discount and Delayed Payment Charges, has also been finally rectified by MERC. Now the discount and penalty will be calculated on the same elements (excluding only duuties and taxes, which is fair) .. so consumers can now avail of prompt payment discount even on the Fixed Charges and Power factor penalty/incentive also :)

Will post a detailed comparison of all suppliers' rates later.

Today's News Links

Wind-cum-solar units planned in 100 villages
http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/24/stories/2007052404920500.htm

MERC powers up consumers
http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=fromthepress&subsection=inbombay&xfile=May2007_inbombay_standard13007

Why can't we just ban the incandescent bulb?
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=2a1f4455-1496-48a0-880a-cf5db90661b1

Corruption in Electricity Services
http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/02221320/Corruption-in-Electricity-Serv.html

Energy-saver lamp sales grow 50% over 3 years
http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/24011135/Energysaver-lamp-sales-grow-5.html

State to get 14,000 MW in the future
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1098573

Mayawati wants Anil Ambani's SEZ scrapped
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=c05b89fc-1ea2-4780-867e-4033b8941b1a&&Headline=Maya+puts+a+hex+on+Anil’s+trade+zone

Land for Power Plants at cheap rates ??

It seems that BSES Delhi wants the Delhi Government to sell land at cheaper (than market) rates, to set up their Power plants.

Why ?

They are going to be making enough money anyway - as is apparent from their latest Results, available here:
http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/powergeneration/relianceenergy/05/14/quarterlyresults/marketprice/RE10

The news item appears here...
http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/22201352/Delhi-government-wants-power-c.html

Today's News Links

BEST assurance falls flat on face
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1098333

PFC to look into misrepresentation of facts by Lanco Infratech
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=164836

High on power, low on delivery
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=164801

Reliance Cap books Energy profit
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070522/asp/business/story_7811859.asp

NTPC goes green, to foray into wind power
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=372493&ssid=53&sid=BUS

MERC for judicious use of power
http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?leftnm=lmnu2&subLeft=1&autono=284216&tab=r

MSEDCL asks regulator to do rethink on power cuts
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=285083&leftnm=3&subLeft=0&chkFlg=

Greens budget speech
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/greens-budget-speech/2007/05/10/1178390461145.html?page=2

Cogeneration projects get a boost
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Pune/Cogeneration_projects_get_a_boost/articleshow/2024459.cms

First Post ...

Ok .. so it was getting a bit much to have all the bijlee (electricity) related posts on my personal blog.

So I thought of setting up a new one here (at bijleepower) that deals exclusively with bijlee.

You can look forward to more links on news items - pretty much like what we have at the Yahoo Bijlee Group site at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bijlee/

Hope you are em"powered" by these posts !

BTW, my personal blog continues at http://snohri.blogspot.com ... and will become a lot more informal ;)