THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thanks to a lowering of demand in North India, KSEB Limited now virtually stopped costly purchases and has begun, since December 1, to source more than 80 percent of the state’s daily power requirement of 60 million units from cost-effective central generating stations.
While the average cost per unit from diesel and naphtha stations is between Rs 11 and Rs 12, central generating stations sell power at less than Rs 2 per unit.
Even the little that is purchased from costly stations is now secured at a much reduced cost.
The fall in global crude prices has ensured that power from stations like Brahmapuram and Kozhikode diesel stations can now be secured at less than Rs 8 per unit since December.
The biggest gain, however, is the slowing down of hydel stations. All through the last three months, the state’s main hydel stations were overworked. Over 30 MU was milked daily from these stations.
Now it has come down to an average of 11 MU. “The virtual resting of our hydel stations means there will be enough water in our reservoirs for the coming summer season,” a top KSEB official said.
The CGS option also demonstrates KSEBL’s strategic alacrity. The Board is not known to draw its full quota from CGSs when the frequency of the southern region grid s over 50.
This time, KSEBL has cashed in. “A 50-plus frequency suggests very low demand that on such days power will be sold at less than Rs one per unit, almost for free,” said A R Satheesh, vice president of HT-EHT Association.
