As June wraps up, Kerala's power sector grapples with big challenges from a weak southwest monsoon. Combined storage in state's hydroelectric reservoirs,run by Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB),hit just 21% of capacity on June 26. That's 871.26 million units (mu) of potential generation. Only one year had worse levels recently.
Monsoon began June 4; storage was even lower at 17%,or 721.11 mu. Load dispatch center data shows little improvement since. KSEB forced to cut back on hydel generation,especially from the 780 MW Idukki project. Daily hydel output across reservoirs averaged just 11.7 mu in June.
With daily power use around 88 mu,state increasingly leans on power imports,averaging 74.3 mu daily. India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a 36% rainfall shortfall from June 1 to June 27. Most districts,except Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta, saw below-average rains.
KSEB has asked State Electricity Regulatory Commission to approve short-term power buys to cover peak demand from June 15 to December 31,except September. Commission's decision still awaited…
