THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an apparent move to explore unconventional options to tide over the lingering power crisis in the country, the Union power ministry has requested the state government to pump into the national power grid the maximum hydel power Kerala can produce during the off-peak daytime, till October 31.
Union power secretary Alok Kumar in his letter to chief secretary V P Joy, has sought urgent support of the state as the power crisis owing to coal shortage is “likely to take some time to stabilize”. “`There is scope for enhancing power generation support from the storage-based stations in your state (Idukki 780 MW), especially during off peak hours, ie, 8am to 6pm,” the letter dated October14 said.
KSEB authorities said the board has no reasons to reject the suggestion, especially since the state is receiving heavy rains in the catchment areas of major hydel stations, including Idukki, and there is expendable level of water for additional power generation during daytime. As the storage level in dams, including Idukki, has crossed 86% of their storage capacity, the board has already jacked up the power generation from hydel stations.
According to sources, the central power ministry is yet to hold discussions with KSEB on how to fashion this one-of-thekind power deal. KSEB is already giving hydel power during off peak hours to agencies with which it had entered into power banking agreement. Owing to the drop in the power consumption level during the rains, the board even sells out hydel power in the power exchange during the off peak.
However, the abundance of water in dams won’t help KSEB to ward off the power shortage during the peak hours, ie, from 6pm to 10pm. As on October 15, the board has no shortage of power during the peak hour. The availability of power for the day is 3,426 MW against the expected demand of 3,400 MW. However, the mix of energy is such that the in-house generation as on October14 was 36 MU against the sluggish demand of 69 MU for the day. In case there is a sharp cut in the power from the central generating stations or from other generators with whom KSEB has tied up for power during peak hours, Kerala could still face severe power shortage during night hours.
Sources said KSEB is likely to demand the power ministry to either swap the hydel power being given during the off peak with the power from central generating stations during the peak hours or pay a fair price per unit. The board has recently bought power at the rate as high as Rs 20 from the power exchange during the coal shortage-induced power crisis.
