1.2.2 Electrical Energy Use in Karnataka:
Since electrical energy plays a dominant role in the energy
scene of Karnataka, it is being looked at in detail in this section (Government
of Karnataka 1990 and Government of Karnataka 1994). Installed electrical energy
capacity as on March 1993 is 3005 MW, out of which 79% is by Hydel source (2375
MW) and balance 21% is by thermal power station (630 MW). The gross energy
generation from these sources for four years shows that it ranges from 12,430 -
14408 million units (million kwh). And electrical energy met from central source
during these years ranges from 3061 - 3502 million units. The plant load factor
for only thermal power plant at Raichur varies from 33.5% (in 1985-86) to 76.9%
(in 1990-91). Transmission and Distribution losses varies from 24.6% (in
1980-81) to 19.3% in 1991-92. The losses have increased to 20.9% in 1992-93.
Study of number of consumers and percentage of households electrified at five
years interval for the period 1970-71 to 1990-91 shows that at the end of
1970-71 about 24.66 % households were electrified in Karnataka, and at the end
of 1990-91 60.43% households are electrified. Percentage growth of consumers
over a period of five year shows maximum growth of 61.69% during 1980-81 to
1985-86 period. This is followed by 40.86% growth during 1975-76 to 1980-81
period. The high percentage during 1980-81 to 1985-86 period may be attributed
to the introduction of popular schemes such as Bhagya Jyothi (at least one bulb
for social and economic backward categories of society).
Per capita consumption of electrical energy varies from 101.5
kwh (1971-72) to 295.4 kwh ( in 1990-91). Based on districtwise Percentage of
households electrified, districts can be grouped into four categories based on a
range of percentage households electrified in each district. These categories
are a) Category 1 - more than 90% of households are electrified, b) Category 2 -
wherein more than 60% - 90% households are electrified c) Category 3 - wherein
40 - 60% households are electrified d) Category 4 - wherein households
electrified is less than 40%. In Category 1, Bangalore stands alone with 92.13%
of households are electrified. Category 2 consists of Belgaum (70.65%) followed
by Tumkur (70.01%), Mandya (69.88%), Mysore (68.81%) and Shimoga (68.55%).
Uttara Kannada (49.42%) and Dakshina Kannada Districts (49.02%) with moderate
performance are in category 3. While Category 4 consists of districts such as
Bellary (34.79%), Raichur (31.83%), Gulbarga (30.16%), Bidar (29.59%) and
Bijapur (29.51%). Coincidentally the category 4 districts are also economically
backward districts in Karnataka.
Sector wise electric energy consumption data indicates that
during 1989-90, Industries sector consumes 4780 million units constitutes share
of 44.86%,followed by irrigation pumpsets with a share of 28.63%. It is seen
share of irrigation pumpsets is gradually increasing. 8.82% of pumpsets
energised till 1991-92, is already consuming 36.26% of total electrical energy.
This is followed by industries with a share of 34.34%.
A look at overall energy consumption does reveal how energy is
used. The profile of connected load from 1969-70 to 1985-86 in various sectors
shows that the annual increase for the year 1985-86, is greatest for
Agricultural pumpsets (11.9%) followed by AEH consumers (11.86%) and LT
installations (10.5%). When we look at the increase for the three years from
1980-81 to 1985-86, the connected load AEH category grows faster (57.2%) than
that of LT industries (46.5%) HT industries show a small growth rate. The
overall annual growth rate is only 8.9%. AEH, LT and Agricultural installation
have growth rate greater than the overall growth rate. In the case of 1980-81 to
1985-86 growth rate AEH and LT industries, agricultural sector have greater
increase than the overall values. The sector wise annual consumption of
electrical energy in various sectors reveals that in last 20 years the total
electrical energy consumption varies from 2338.5 - 12568 million units. It is
seen that increase in energy consumption for agricultural pumpsets is about
30.52 times (from 149.3 to 4557 million units), domestic sector 9.7 times (
150.3 to 1929 million units) and in HT industries 2.84 times (1519 to 4316
million units) in last 20 years.
A shortfall of 30 per cent in power availability versus demand
exists even today. Accentuating the shortages, every month about 30,000 new
installations with a peak demand of 45 MW, are being added to the system. At
present there are 55,83,207 installations with a connected load of 8713.9 MW or
which is almost thrice the present installed capacity. These includes 2,151 high
tension installations and 7,67,991 irrigation pumpsets, with connected loads of
1,460 MW and 2,763 MW respectively. In the last two decades Karnataka faced
power cuts due to vagaries of monsoon (as Karnataka mainly depends on
hydel-power) ranging from 25 per cent to 80 per cent on different categories of
consumers. This resulted in the lay off of industries and loss of revenue to the
tune of Rs. 9000 crore. Heavy transmission and distribution losses of the order
of 20-22%. A five per cent reduction in T & D losses would mean extra
availability of 700 million units, which means additional revenue of Rs. 70
crores, to State Electricity Board.
Environmental impacts associated with large scale energy
projects has necessitated to look at eco-friendly energy projects (Ashenayi and
Ramakumar 1990). Submersion of land, rehabilitation of local people, destruction
of natural gene pool, flora and fauna and desiltation problem, earth quake,
spread of diseases like malaria are associated with construction of big dams of
large hydel projects (e.g. Linganamakki, Kali, Kodasalli), air quality,
visibility, polluted air with fly ash has led to the diseases of respiratory
system in the case of thermal power station (at Raichur district in Karnataka).
These has necessitated to look for alternative energy technologies and
conservation
measures.
