Why does Tamil Nadu face a deficit of 3,000 to 3,500 MW when it has a capacity of 10,214 MW ? And why is power generation only in the range of 7,000 to 7,500 MW? According to experts, the term ‘installed capacity’ is only indicative of the plant capability and should not be taken to mean actual production. The Ennore Thermal Power Station with a total capacity of 450 MW generates only about half of its capacity. “This is a four-decade-old plant and should have been retired long ago. As we face shortages, we are running it,” an official pointed out.The Mettur hydro facilities (Mettur dam, tunnel and lower Mettur, 370 MW) are irrigation-linked. Electricity can be produced only when the dam is opened to let water out for agriculture. Also, the quantum of power that is likely to be produced depends on the quantum of water released and not the capacity. Normally, the average power generation in thermal and gas power plants are in the range of 75 to 85 per cent against the total capacity and for the hydro facilities it is about 30 to 40 per cent.
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