Kerala sees fall in power usage
A good drop in temperatures seems to have done the trick
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The frequent summer showers have reduced the daily power consumption in the state. The consumption level of 80 million units a day in the last week of April, remained at that level during the early days of May. It has now dropped dramatically by more than 10 million units to less than 70 MU. Moreover, the KSEB has stopped its dependence on costly naphtha and diesel plants.
An appreciable drop in temperatures seems to have done the trick. For instance, maximum temperature in Palakkad district, which had recorded a maximum of nearly 42ºC, has come down to nearly 35ºC. “The rains have not betrayed the state. Now, it has also been forecast that the monsoon will hit the state early,” a top KSEBL official said. The fall in consumption is viewed as “massive” as the factors that contribute to high consumption still exist: vacation, elections and IPL matches.
Besides a drop in temperatures, KSEB Limi-ted’s “undeclared” consumption control strategies too have helped. “Undeclared power cuts have been imposed across the state during peak hours. This has definitely brought down the consumption,” a top KSEBL official said.
The reduction saved KSEBL from having to depend on costly stations like NTPC Kayamkulam, and Brah-mapuram and Kozhikode diesel plants. Only a week ago, KSEBL had to evacuate nearly 6 million units a day from these costly stations. In January, the congestion in the northwestern corridor eased, and the state also received power from the southern grid.