Thiruvananthapuram: Power consumers in major towns and cities in the state should have enjoyed the benefits of a modern customer care system like automatic rectification of power outages at least by the end of 2014. However, thanks to poor monitoring by KSEB Limited, a state-of-the-art customer service mechanism continues to elude the state. Yet, the contracting company that had failed in its obligations was extended favours. Under the ambitious Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (RAPDRP) to make the utility commercially viable, a Centralised Customer Care Service (CCC) was to be set up as part of Part A of RAPDRP to improve the customer service by procession and resolving customer requests, queries and complaints in minimum possible time.
All the 43 projects submitted by KSEBL under Part A for 43 towns in the state were sanctioned in November 2009. The deadline was further extended by five years to 2014. Even then, it was not completed. Korea Electric Power Data Network Company Limited (KDN), the contractor for the project, was to link all 228 electrical sections falling within the 43 towns with the CCC. The CCC was inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram in November, 2014. “But most of the sections could not be linked with the CCC as KDB failed to provide end-user training to officials of KSEBL,” a top KSEB Limited source said. “Thus, the facility of complaint redressal system was denied to consumers,” the source added.
It was also noticed that even in CCC-linked sections, integration of the system with billing module and consumer indexing was pending undermining the gains of the linkage. Under the contract, release of payments was performance-based, where payments would be made for measured deliverables and outputs. There is no provision for payment of advance on delivery of material. Even then, in August 2014 KSEBL Board of Directors decided to pay interest-free advance of Rs 14.5 crore to KDN.
Board in deep water, cuts down hydel generation
With the northeast monsoon also playing truant, the state’s reservoirs are getting dehydrated with alarming rapidity. To somehow conserve water for the coming summer, KSEB Limited has cut down hydel generation like never before. Average daily hydel generation during November this year has been just five million units, which is quite a contrast from November 2015 when the generation was between 23 and 25 million units. On December 4, hydel generation was virtually stopped with only 3.9 MU being generated, the lowest daily generation ever. At Moolamattam, the generation was 1.5 MU on the day, a level below which the 780-MW plant cannot be operated. However, the extreme frugality seems inadequate.
For instance on December 4, though the public utility brought down hydel generation to as low as 3.9 MU, the inflow into the reservoirs was lower, just 3.4 MU. “The non-arrival of the northeast monsoon, which has traditionally cushioned the state’s power sector, is a big shock. Whenever the southwest monsoon had failed, it was invariably made up by adequate northeast rains,” said KSEBL chief engineer (generation) Brijlal V. It is the unpredictability of the rains that has necessitated the conservation of water in the reservoirs.
“The protocol is, at the start of the rain year in June, our reservoirs should have enough water to generate electricity for at least a month. This is to ensure that we have the capability to generate power even if the worst happens,” Mr Brijlal said. As it stands, KSEBL’s bottom line will not be seriously hit even if hydel power, which comes virtually at no cost, is reduced to the minimum. KSEBL has still not found it necessary to purchase power from costly stations like NTPC Kayamkulam and other diesel stations within the state. We get over 95 percent of our daily needs from outside, from central generating stations, and power traders. “Thanks to some timely deals we have struck, the average power purchase cost is not more than Rs four per unit,” a top source said.
