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Bad news for Kerala's power sector

Hydel generation has outstripped inflow into State’s reservoirs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is bad news for the State's power sector. For the first time after the onset of the southwest monsoon, hydel generation has outstripped inflow into the State's reservoirs. KSEB has only two options: either go for costly power purchase or allow its reservoirs to be depleted in the hope that the northeast monsoon will make good the shortfall.
Till September 17, though the gap was gradually narrowing, generation was below the daily inflow. If the generation was 20 million units on September 17, the inflow was slightly higher at 21.59 MU. The trend reversed from September 18, when the generation was 18.85 MU and the inflow was only 16.79 MU. But on September 20, the gap widened alarmingly; while the generation was 21 MU the inflow fell to 15 MU. On September 21, inflow increased slightly to 17.5 MU but KSEB had to step up hydel generation to 22 MU. September saw hydel generation up to 23 MU while the inflow remained at 17.5 MU.
On September 6, while the inflow was 50 million units the generation was 21 MU. On September 13, the inflow dipped considerably to 32.7 MU while the generation was 24 MU, the gap narrowing to less than 9 MU, nearly as worse as during the drought months of 2012. The inflow-generation gap during the first week of September also bests the best average inflow-generation gap (43 MU – 23 MU) recorded in 2007. The more the gap the more the water that is stored in the reservoir for future use.
KSEB Limited is forced to keep up its hydel generation as daily consumption has soared to summer levels of over 60 MU. “Heavy rains had reduced KSEB’s dependence on costly power and it could afford to step up hydel production, the cost of which is considerably lower. Now with the rains gone and consumption soaring, KSEB will have to make tough choices,” a top source in the board said.

( Source : dc )
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