The Goa Government and the Electricity Department have begun to worry. A poor monsoon, rising temperatures and looming drought like conditions mean that demand for power is expected to rise significantly especially during peak hours over the months and years to come.
An increased demand combined with irregular power supply expected from hydro-electric power plants, on account of the weak monsoon and a shortage of coal to fuel thermal power plants, means that a perfect storm is in the making.
It is challenges like these that question the State’s lack of preparedness and self sufficiency when it comes to power generation. For years the government has paid lip service to the cause of investments in the renewable power sector. Targets were set, phasing out of energy heavy, polluting industries were announced and consumers were encouraged to go green. Some of these targets were not practical, others were simply fantastical.
But the bottomline remains is that Goa, which remains heavily dependent on the national power grid, much like the rest of the country is going to be adversely affected by the nationwide power shortage that is looming. This is especially felt during peak hours when both tourism and industrial power demand is at its peak, meaning Goa will have to pay heavily for power consumed during those hours.
Industrial consumers have already been notified that should they desire to have a continuous supply of reliable power, they will be required to pay heavily for that which is consumed during peak hours.
All this, combined with the fact that this is an election year, means that the government has placed itself in a tricky situation vis a vis how it goes about handling the crisis. All indicators suggest that the State is grossly underprepared for the eventual situation and that load-shedding for industrial and other high demand consumers will be the way out.
Solar power generation has barely moved over the last few years and regardless, solar power is only generated during the day. Wind power has not been explored in any significant way and the state’s generation, despite much potential, is close to nil.
With a proper plan in place the Goa government could have thought of graded ‘austerity’ measures for power consumers in a manner that ensures non-essential power demand can be moved to non- peak hours. This can only be achieved through consumer education, an awareness and promotional campaign to promote efficient devices and to use power when it is cheaper.
The government of the day has chosen to do none of this. Instead it has chosen to stand and do nothing hoping that the crisis will blow over. Holding meetings will achieve little to nothing especially given that the government has put itself in a position where it does not have too many options to work their way out of this crisis.
Industrial, tourism, agricultural and household consumers all stand to be affected in different ways should the worst play out. The Goa government ought to be transparent with its citizens and consumers in order that those at the individual level too can prepare for what’s coming.
