KOCHI: The incessant rain has come as a blessing in disguise for Kerala Electricity Board (KSEB) which is fighting a power crisis due to the coal shortage that has affected the thermal power units.
The heavy rainfall has led to a sharp drop in temperature and as the use of fans and air conditioners has come down. There was a decline of 10,000 million units in power consumption, which has helped the board to manage the situation without load shedding.
The power consumption on Monday was 71.59 million units. While Kerala generated 33.66 million units, the state purchased 37.93 million units. The state generates only 35% of its power requirement and purchases power from the national pool to meet the state’s consumption. All the hydel power units are generating maximum power. One of the turbines at the Idukki hydel project has been shut down for maintenance.
Kerala has entered into a power purchase agreement with major thermal power plants including Neyveli, Ramagundam, Talcher, Simhadri, and Vallur. There has been a sharp drop in the buffer stock of coal at these power plants and a delay in the scheduled delivery of coal could lead to a crisis. But the Union government has assured steps to ensure supply of coal, and there is no threat of load shedding at the moment, said a KSEB officer.
The state also gets 240 MW of power from Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu. “The state faces a shortage of 110 million units at peak hours and we are using the short-term power purchase option to meet the deficit. However, the rate of power has gone up from Rs 6 per unit to Rs 20 per unit during peak hours.
The electricity regulatory commission and the government have granted permission to purchase power at a high rate till October 19,” said KSEB system operations chief engineer S R Anand.
Meanwhile, the water level in major reservoirs of KSEB has risen to 85%. Kerala has received 265.5 mm rainfall from October 1 to 12 which is 117% of the normal rainfall. Kozhikode district has received a rainfall of 377.7 mm during the period which is 218% above normal. Kannur, Malappuram, Palakkad, Wayanad, Kollam, and Kottayam districts have received more than 100% excess rainfall. IMD has issued an orange alert for Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts on Wednesday.