Chennai, Oct. 9
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) owes wind power producers in the State over Rs 108 crore for the power they have supplied to the State grid since April, according to a press release from the Indian Wind Power Association.
According to the association, the payment delay has affected the expansion plans and operations of the wind power producers. There are over 8,000 windmills in Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and Kayathar. They produce about 408 crore units of electricity annually and sell about 150 crore units to the TNEB, which buys the power at Rs 2.70 a unit.
In the last five months over 300 windmill owners who sell power to the TNEB have been affected due to the delay in payment, according to the release.
The association has urged the TNEB to expedite payment and release the dues by the second week of October as committed by it, the release said.
Despite the peak wind season between May and October the windmills have not operated to full capacity because of inadequate infrastructure to evacuate the power. Over 25 per cent of production is affected, the release said.
The association has suggested that the TNEB could sell power to neighbouring States where there is a shortage.