Consumption at all-time high of 80 million units

Power consumption in Kerala breached all records on Wednesday to touch 4,000 MW (80 million units), prompting experts to predict that the State may consume up to 100 million units a day in two years, given the soaring mercury level and pattern of electricity use.

Daily peak demand that swayed between 60 and 65 million units last year has gone up by about 15 million units this year and it is realistic to foresee the State requiring 100 million units during peak hours in two years, says a government official.

Figures from the Kerala State Electricity Board show that the peak-load demand climbed to 4,004 MW (80.33 million units) on Wednesday. “It is the first time that the 4,000-MW (80 million units) barrier is breached,” says an expert on Kerala power situation. He points out that the morning and evening peak demand levels have converged.

The massive rise in power demand has prompted experts to call on authorities to make it easier for people to tap solar power. Former Chief Electrical Inspector P.C. Rajan Babu feels around 40 per cent of Kerala’s power demand can be shifted to grid-linked solar power generation. But solar power generation has lagged in the State for various reasons and the government must encourage people to establish solar units, he says, adding the success of Cochin International Airport Ltd. has cleared the air of any doubt about the efficacy of solar power.

-Hindu

KSEB Still Heavily Dependent on Power Imports

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The State Government may have avoided loadsheddings and power cuts so far this summer, but the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is riding hard on power imports to meet the daily demand with consumption at an all-time high.
In March, daily power imports comprising Central share and purchases from traders averaged 42 million units (MU), accounting for more than 60 per cent of the daily consumption.
For example, on Saturday, the KSEB imported 41.26 MU to meet the demand which finally stood at 69.78 MU.
Power generation within the state stood at just 28.51 MU on Saturday, with hydropower contributing the lion’s share.
From the beginning of this year, the KSEB had taken great pains to ensure sufficient water in the hydel reservoirs to meet the summer demand without depending too much on costly purchases from the liquid fuel plants within the state such as NTPC, Kayamkulam.
Peak power consumption period for the KSEB during the summer season is between March 15 and April 15.
Highest Consumption
Thrice in March consumption has crossed the 70 million unit (MU) mark, with the record for the highest consumption so far at 70.99 MU being set on March 26. Consumption stood at 70.10 MU on March 25 and at 70.41 MU on March 24.
Hydel reserves are also being rapidly used up with the KSEB straining to meet the growing demand. At present, the reservoirs are 51 per cent full, with just enough water to generate 2096.9 MU. The Idukki reservoir is 51 per cent full. At the beginning of this month, all the reservoirs combined had been 62 per cent full.
‘Earth Hour’ Evokes Little Impact
Saturday’s ‘Earth Hour’ observance, despite the huge public participation, seems to have made little dent in the power consumption pattern. Going by consumption data from the load centres of the KSEB, the total consumption on Saturday went down by a mere 0.014 million units compared to Friday. Like every year, the KSEB had joined WWF-India’s ‘Earth Hour’ campaign and urged consumers to switch off unwanted lights between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm The KSEB had also donated 5000 compact fluorescent lamps to WWF-India for free distribution to the public.

-New Indian express