Kerala State Electricity Board ups hydel generation as rain gods bless reservoirs
Thiruvananthapuram: With the southwest monsoon staging a dramatic comeback, KSEB Limited has decided to push up hydel generation to a new high. From a low of 15-20 million units till the first half of September, hydel generation has now been spiked to 26 MU. Water level in reservoirs on September 21 was 64 percent, up from 50 percent on September 5; the level was only 35 percent even as late as August 22. What’s more, for the first time in over a year, the Idukki reservoir, the largest in the state, has enough water to generate considerably more units of electricity than during the same time last year.
An increase in internal generation has also been necessitated by a fall in supply from central generating stations. Almost all major central stations - in Kudankulam, Raichur, Simhadri, Neyveli, Vijayawada - are partially or fully closed for annual maintenance or for repairs. However, the late surge of the southwest monsoon, has ensured that the reservoirs were adequately nourished. Even at this point when KSEBL has accelerated hydel generation, the inflow into the reservoirs (43.4 MU) far outstrips generation at nearly 26 MU. Before the monsoon came back with a vengeance, it was the tight-rope measures adopted by KSEB Limited that conserved water in the reservoirs.
The public utility pulled back internal generation and stepped up outside purchases. KSEBL has been purchasing an average of 55.25 million units from outside. Of this, 27.91 MU is secured as central allocation from central generating stations, at a relatively low cost of Rs 2-3 per unit. But the peak hour rates of power from outside sources like power exchanges and traders, even during this period of power surplus across the country, is relatively costly at Rs 6 to Rs 7 per unit. Now that the reservoirs are flush, KSEBL can safely boost internal production, thereby bringing down outside purchases by a huge margin. “When the central generating stations, too, become up and running, the power situation would be eased even further,” the source said.
