Date:09/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/09/stories/2008090950430100.htm

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Power curbs to continue

Special Correspondent

Rs.10.16 a unit beyond ceiling for HT, EHT consumers
No further restrictions on domestic users

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has ordered continuation of the 75 per cent power restriction imposed on High Tension (HT) and Extra High Tension (EHT) consumers in July. The Commission has also turned down a request of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for further curbs on power consumption by domestic users.

In an order issued on Monday, the Commission said it would review the power position on or before November 1 to take a decision on extension of the restrictions to more categories of consumers as sought by the KSEB or relaxation of the existing restrictions.

It directed the KSEB to furnish all necessary data for the review. It allowed the KSEB to collect Rs.10.16 a unit for every additional unit of power consumed by the HT and EHT consumers over and above the 75 per cent ceiling imposed in July.

The KSEB had requested the Commission to permit it to impose additional restrictions and extend the restrictions to all categories of consumers to bring down power consumption by 4.56 million units a day. It had sought nod to procure an additional 1,884 million units from liquid fuel stations or traders and pass on to the consumers the cost during this financial year itself.

No decision on plea

The Commission was of the view that the KSEB’s request for extension of the restrictions to all categories of consumers needed to be considered seriously, but did not take a decision in the matter as the KSEB had not submitted any specific proposal in this regard. It directed the KSEB to submit a petition for imposing restrictions, if any was needed, on Low Tension (LT) consumers.

Hydel storage

The Commission found that though, as compared to the situation in July, there was improvement in hydel storage, the reduction in the availability of power from the Central generating stations was alarming. The KSEB had informed the Commission that based on the information of the Meteorological Department, Kerala fell in the category of rain-deficient States (-20 to -59 per cent) for the period from June 1 to August 27 and that the average daily availability of power from Central generating stations had also fallen from 19.47 million units a day in May to 15.94 million units a day in August.