Power crisis: KSEB to explore options if rains play truant past July 15

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala State Electricity Board has assessed the power scenario in the state as satisfactory for up to July 15. The board decided to explore multiple options if monsoon plays truant past July 15 and thus worsen the power shortage.
Board chairman and managing director N S Pillai said the weather forecasters predicted a good spell of monsoon after July 15. If predictions prove right, there would be nothing to worry about the power situation. "Suppose it doesn't rain, we would be exploring other options available. One thing we can do is to request the central transmission utility - Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO) - to raise the bar for us to bring around 300 to 400MW power additionally from outside the state. Another option is to submit earnestly before the Supreme Court about the bleak power scenario and seek its intervention to clear legal impediments in commissioning the 400MW Edamaon-Kochi transmission line that is almost ready for commissioning. Another option before us is to appeal high-tension/extra high-tension (HT/EHT) consumers to reduce their power consumption by banking partially on their own generating facilities. We would be forced to resort to power restrictions only if these options don't work out and water in our reservoirs recedes alarmingly,'' he said.
If monsoon is back by July 15, as expected, there won't need any additional measures to meet the power demand in the state. Now, the daily average power consumption stands at 76MU. The board imports 64MU power from outside and the rest is managed through in-house hydel power stations. The board might also start carrying out line-maintenance works if monsoon remains elusive, sources said.