Power-line damages cut off 5 lakh consumers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Gusty winds and torrential rains that battered the hilly terrains of the state over the last couple of days are having a ripple effect on Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). The damages to power lines have cut off at least five lakh consumers from the supply chain in the state, resulting in a slump in the demand for power and the other perils it entail.
Top officials in the board said the utility has not yet assessed the loss it suffered owing to large-scale devastation of power-distribution lines in the rains. “The damages would run into crores of rupees; but its impact is even more appalling. In a state like Kerala with thick vegetation and torrential rains and floods, only underground cables can avert such large-scale damages. But, it would be prohibitively costly for the board,” said a senior official in the board.
Subsequent to the widespread damages on the lines, the power demand, which fell substantially following the Covid-19 outbreak, has hit a slump on Sunday. “Power consumption in the state on Sunday stood at 52 million units, forcing the board to surrender 17mu to generators outside the state with whom KSEB had entered into power-purchase agreements in advance,” KSEB chairman and managing director N S Pillai said. The level on consumption on the day was similar to the demands in 2011 and 2012.
Meanwhile, one among the six generators in Idukki power house is on a compulsory shutdown as the board failed to repair the generator that sustained serious damages. “Unavailability of men and materials required for the repair work during the pandemic led to such huge delay,’’ the board officials said.
“We are closely monitoring the water level in all of our reservoirs and are confident about managing them without resorting to any major spilling of water this time. Water in most of the dams is in comfortable levels and Idukki can very well contain the additional flow of water from Mullaperiyar if there arises such a situation,” Pillai said. High vigil would be maintained for four days after it stops raining, he said.