A telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a radio base station in a mobile telecommunications network, comprises a plurality of traffic handling units and a plurality of power supply units powering the traffic handling units. Control means are provided for determining a power budget based on a power criterion. The control means activate an amount of traffic handling units and power supply units having a total power consumption equal to or less than the power budget. The power criterion for determining the power budget can comprise any power related parameter, such as an amount of solar cell generated power, a charging condition of a backup battery, a value of a mains voltage, a failure of a power supply unit of the apparatus, etc.