Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa government’s Electricity Department and representatives of the industrial sector are working on a temporary arrangement aimed at easing the State’s electricity shortage and ensuring a more reliable supply to industries.
The issue came up for discussion during a meeting attended by representatives of several industry associations and Chief Electrical Engineer Stephen Fernandes.
Industry representatives have proposed an additional charge on electricity consumption as part of efforts to raise funds for procuring extra power during the period of shortage. The proposal covers industrial consumers connected to the 11 kV, 33 kV and 110 kV networks.
Under the suggested structure, industrial consumers would pay an additional ₹0.80 per unit during solar and normal hours, while consumption during peak hours would attract an additional ₹2 per unit.
For larger consumers connected to the 33 kV and 110 kV networks, an additional peak-hour component of ₹1.20 per unit has also been proposed.
The proposed charges are intended to come into effect from November 1, with the Electricity Department expected to explore other measures to manage the supply situation in the meantime.
Industry bodies have stressed that the proposed increase should not become a permanent burden on consumers. They have called for the additional charges to be reviewed regularly and reduced or withdrawn once the power situation improves and procurement costs return to normal levels.
Another proposal under discussion is a 50:50 sharing of the additional expenditure involved in buying power from short-term or spot markets. Under this arrangement, the government and industrial consumers would share the extra procurement cost equally.
Industry representatives said maintaining a dependable electricity supply was particularly important for manufacturing units, where interruptions can affect production, equipment and overall operating costs.
The Electricity Department has attributed the supply constraints to factors including a weak monsoon, which has reduced hydropower generation, as well as problems related to the quality of coal being used for thermal power generation.
The industry associations have also urged consumers to reduce unnecessary electricity use and adopt measures to optimise consumption, particularly while the State continues to face supply pressure.
The discussions are part of continuing efforts between the government and the industrial sector to find a workable solution to the shortage while limiting the impact of power disruptions on Goa’s manufacturing and business activities.
