Hyderabad, November 11: Changing lifestyle of denizens seems to have landed the State government in troubled waters.
With increasing usage of power by domestic users and multi-national companies, a steep rise of 14.8 per cent in power consumption has been observed within a span of six months leaving officials perplexed.
Officials observed a steep increase in power consumption between April and September this year. They found that the power consumption increased by 14.8 per cent as against an average annual increase of 5.6 per cent between 2003 and 2009. Prior to 2003, the State had recorded an annual increase of 3.7 per cent in power consumption. Officials fear that the demand may go up further with the dry weather prevailing.
“With changing lifestyles, every household is equipped with electric and electronic appliances like televisions, refrigerators, computers, airconditioners, water heaters and water coolers apart from other devices. All these equipments consume huge power resulting in such a staggering increase in power usage,’’ said a senior IAS officer in the energy department. He admitted that his own office was equipped with four airconditioners.
As the power consumption has gone up beyond their imagination, the officials are finding adequate power supply to different sectors difficult. The officials also discovered that the boom in the service sector contributed a further increase in power consumption as these offices are equipped with a large number of airconditioners and computers.
The State Government is facing a new challenge in view of the rise in power consumption.
“Going by the consumption levels of the past we prepared proposals for doubling the power generation capacity in the next 20 years to meet the future needs. But now we are forced to refix the targets and double the power generation capacity within six to seven years,’’ said an official.
But with the government facing a severe financial crisis, the power projects are likely to be delayed. Officials fear that power cuts for five or six hours a day will become inevitable unless the projects are completed.
–Agencies