Meghalaya is set for another round of load shedding from tomorrow much to the inconvenience of the people especially students.
This time the load shedding is due to maintenance shutdown of one unit of ONGC Tripura Power Company Limited (OTPC), low generation of all NEEPCO hydro power plants and low water level in the power stations of Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited (MePGCL).
In a statement issued by Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) today, the State will be facing acute power shortage of around 2.1 million units for tomorrow.
“Today in the late evening, we have managed to arrange around 0.8 million units from outside the State,” the MeECL said.
The MeECL said that because of the ongoing Assembly elections across India and peak summer in northern and southern India, energy rates in exchange markets have touched Rs 6 per unit thus making it unviable for MeECL to purchase electricity on real time basis.
“Therefore, with no other option left, MePDCL is compelled to enforce load shedding across Meghalaya on rotation basis. Timing may vary slightly to ensure grid stability,” the MeECL said adding that the load shedding has got nothing to do with the regulation notice issued by Power Grid.
According to the load shedding schedule, Shillong and the entire Garo Hills will not have electricity from tomorrow midnight to 6 am.
Load shedding will be imposed from 6 am to 9 am in the entire Jaintia Hills including Lumshnong industries.
Again for Lumshnong industries and the entire Ri-Bhoi district, the load shedding will be from 9 am to 11 am.
The load shedding for Lumshnong industries and the entire Khasi Hills region will be from 11 am to 2 pm.
Further, load shedding will be imposed in Lumshnong industries and the entire Garo Hills from 2 pm to 3 pm.
The load shedding for industries in Byrnihat and Lumshnong and also in the entire Shillong will be from 3 pm to 5 pm.
Again from 5 pm to 12 midnight, the load shedding will be for Byrnihat industries.
Since February, Meghalaya has seen frequent load shedding due to failure by MeECL to pay its dues to NEEPCO and Power Grid.
