KSEB to purchase power for Rs 131 crore, relief to the state's power crisis

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has received temporary relief in its efforts to tackle the state's power crisis. The State Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved the purchase of 164.16 million units of electricity from November to March. The KSEB has been allowed to purchase power at an average rate of Rs 8 per unit during off-peak hours, from midnight to 5 am. The total cost of the purchase will be Rs 131.26 crore. The commission said the short-term power purchase agreements were approved to help the KSEB conserve water in hydel reservoirs for the summer months.

Meanwhile, the commission rejected the KSEB's other short-term power purchase proposals for peak and off-peak hours, citing factors including the availability of electricity from the Sinnar thermal power plant. The KSEB had approached the commission seeking approval to purchase electricity at Rs 13.89 per unit during peak hours in March and April.