Out of 6 thermal plants only 2 score over 80% PLF

According to the data available with DTNext for 2015-16, only the Mettur TPS-I (Thermal Power Station) and the North Chennai I TPS generated PLF of 81.01 and 80.39 respectively.  The Thoothukudi TPS with an installed capacity of 1,050 MW had a PLF of 76.79, while the Mettur II 600 MW unit had a PLF of 74.49.  The 1,200 MW North Chennai II TPS had the lowest PLF of 61.65 while the Ennore TPS unit V has been permitted to shut down by the corporation. 

The six power plants with a total 4,770 MW capacity generated 28,375.37 MU (million units) of electricity with the Mettur I and North Chennai I units with generating capacities of 840 MW and 630 MW generated 5,977.38 MU and 4,448.86 MU respectively. “Efforts were being taken to ensure that PLF of other plants increased through improved maintenance and operation,” a senior TANGEDCO official told this newspaper. He pointed out that TANGEDCO has included seven cities including Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchy, Salem, Tirunelveli and Tirupur under the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/ Distribution management system (SCADA/DMS) at an estimated Rs 182.17 crores.

Cities with more than 4 lakh population (according to 2001 census) and an annual input energy of 350 Mus were chosen. “The corporation plans to reduce transmission and distribution (T&D) loss by 15 per cent through the programme for which 87 towns in the state have been allocated Rs 3,279.56 crores through various projects under Restructured Accelerated Power Development programme,” the official said.