MeECL to impose load shedding from April 7

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 6, 2021

The Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) has decided to impose load shedding in the entire state from April 7.

Announcing this on Tuesday night, the MeECL said Meghalaya will be facing an acute power shortage of around 2.1 MU (million units) due to maintenance shutdown of one unit of OTPC Agartala, low generation of all NEEPCO hydro plants and low water level in MePGCL power stations.

“With great difficulty, today in the late evening, we have managed to arrange around 0.8MU from outside the state,” it said.

Also because of the ongoing Assembly elections across India and peak summer in Northern and Southern India, energy rates in exchange markets have touched 6 Rs per unit thus making it unviable for us to purchase electricity on a real time basis.

“Therefore, with no other option left, MePDCL is compelled to enforce load shedding across Meghalaya on rotation basis,” the MeECL said.

Stating that the timing may vary slightly to ensure grid stability, the MeECL said that all attempts will be made to cause least inconvenience to the general public.

It also maintained that this has got nothing to do with the regulation notice issued from Power Grid but only because of water availability.