In Kerala this summer, earn cash for electricity saved

IANS/Thiruvananthapuram

State-run Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), reeling under monthly losses of over Rs2bn, has launched a unique scheme for domestic consumers which allows them to earn cash back for power saved.

While the state need, on average, around 58mn units daily, the generation from the state mainly through hydel generation and other sources comes to only half its requirement. The rest of the power consumed in the state is sourced from the central pool and from power purchased from external sources at high cost.

KSEB has urged its domestic consumers to around 10%, and announced incentives to do so.

“We sell power to domestic users at Rs4.60 per unit. Starting from March 23 till May 31, we are running a campaign for all domestic consumers. If during this period, any consumer saves a minimum of 10% electricity compared to the previous bill, we will give a cash incentive of 50% of the number of units they saved,” state Power Minister Aryadan Mohamed said here yesterday.

According to the KSEB, of the total installed power capacity of 2,858MW during 2011, the lion’s share of 2,041MW of power came through 24 hydel stations, followed by thermal, which constituted 783MW. The rest was drawn from the central pool, while a miniscule amount came through wind energy.

According to the KSEB, the state requires more than 3,300MW at peak demand time and, to match current capacity, Kerala enforces an hour’s power outage each day - half-an-hour each in the morning and at night.

At times, there are unscheduled power-cuts as well.

“We have another scheme. And that’s for all consumers who come under one feeder. If they manage to save 10% compared to their previous week’s consumption, they will be exempted from power outage the following week,” Mohamed said.

And why is the scheme being launched at this time?

It is in the months of April and May, at the height of summer, that power consumption soars, crossing 62mn units a day.

KSEB sources power at different rates and the highest it pays is Rs9.35 per unit.

“Assuming that through this incentive scheme, there is going to be an overall reduction by 10% in daily consumption, and after that if we pay back 50% to consumers, KSEB will make huge savings because then we can reduce the power that we buy at high rates. That would be a saving for us,” KSEB chairman M Sivasankar said.