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The shortage of coal is keeping power plants on tenterhooks and consumers may have to go through more blackouts this summer.

According to the latest figures of the Central Electricity Authority, as many as 37 power plants are down to seven days' supplies in their stocks while normal supplies should be at 20 to 30 days to ensure smooth generation of power.

The overall generation of electricity during May at 118, 608 MW was eight per cent short of the demand, which was 129,030 MW. The situation has been worsening in recent months as Coal India Ltd (CIL), which accounts for 80 per cent of the county's coal supplies, has not been able to meet its targets.