Kerala considers power curbs next week
KOCHI: If weather gods continue to ignore Kerala for the rest of the monsoon season, the state will have to resort to curbs on power usage. According to Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), if the southwest monsoon does not intensify by Aug.16, there will not be enough water in dams to generate electricity.
“Water in KSEB dams at present is 50 per cent less than the average storage of past 10 years. The water flow to dams has increased from 11 million units (mu) a day during the first half of July to an average 35.7mu in the second half.
“But with the rains losing its momentum, the water flow to dams has worsened, touching as low as 9mu on many days. The dams received only 45.16 per cent of the expected inflow during July. However, we expect the dams to receive at least 50 per cent of the expected amount of water from August to November.
“But if there are slumps, the board would have to think about power restrictions,” KSEB chairman Pillai said ater a high level meeting in Trivandrum.
The reservoirs in the state only have water to generate power for 86 days. Authorities will meet again on Aug.16 to take stock of the situation. Efforts are on to tide over power deficit with the launch of a new transmission line and purchase from the open market.
Currently, the water level in the Idukki dam is only 20.3 per cent of the total reservoir capacity. It is 17.5 per cent at Sabarigiri, and 20.2 per cent at Idamalayar. During this time last year, reservoirs in Kerala had about 92 per cent of water.
Now, it has dropped to 21 per cent. The challenge is to make do with this water for power generation till the arrival of the northeast monsoon. More water is need to raise power output to 18 million units and to supply for drinking needs. Around 600 MW is need to resolve the expected power crisis.
The India Meteorological Department has predicted that the monsoon would intensify in the coming days. There was a rainfall deficit of 32 per cent in June-july, while the state witnessed 64 per cent reduction in inflow.
Edamon-kochi 400KV power transmission line is expected to be commissioned soon, alleviating power shortage. The project is almost completed but about 0.6-km stretch is entangled in legal hurdles. If this too can be completed, then 1000 MW can be brought from outside.
Even if the daily power use rises to 73 million units, the power curbs can be avoided by procuring electricity from Power Exchange. If any hurdle crops up in procuring power from outside, then KSEB would announce curbs.