The Telangana-based power utilities are likely to face a financial burden of Rs 5,200 crore during the current fiscal and the TS government is reported to have assured the utilities that it would bear the burden on behalf of the distribution companies, according to sources.

Attributing the cause of the heavy burden to rise in demand in agriculture, domestic and industrial sectors, sources said the power utilities were being forced to purchase power from different sources at high rates and sel them to consumers at subsidised rates.
According to sources, power was being purchased at not less than Rs 5.37 per unit and was being supplied at Rs 3.89 to normal consumers.

Stating that the power bill could be higher this fiscal due to increase in establishment expenses, huge subsidy for free power and purchase of power at a heavy price, the sources said that the overall energy deficit of Telangana for the last three years could be between 5 per cent and 12 per cent.   

Sources also said that Telangana's energy need was 47,428 MU in 2013-14 fiscal. Of which the utilities could meet only up to 44,946 MU.

The power deficit is expected to continue for another five years, sources explained.