23-05-2025
KSEB seeks KSERC's nod for collecting 32 paise per unit from consumers to recover additional spending on power purchases in 2023-24
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has sought the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission's (KSERC) nod to collect 32 paise per unit from electricity consumers to make up for the additional spending on power purchases in 2023-24.
According to the KSEB, it spent ₹745.86 crore on 'excess power purchase' to compensate for a significant dip in hydropower availability in 2023-24. The KSEB has placed its request under Section 88 of the KSERC (Terms and Conditions for Determination of Tariff), Regulations, 2021, which deals with the 'Adjustment of the cost due to change in hydro-thermal mix.'
The Commission has scheduled a hearing on the KSEB petition on May 27 at its court hall in Thiruvananthapuram.
A disappointing southwest monsoon rainfall, cancellation of contracts for the supply of 465 megawatts (MW) under Design, Build, Finance, Own and Operate (DBFOO) scheme, and an 'unusual increase' in consumption had raised 'significant challenges' to the KSEB in 2023-24, the KSEB said in its petition. The power utility spent 12,982.63 crore on power purchases that year.
According to the KSEB, hydro generation fell by 1,477 million units (mu) over the quantum approved by the commission in 2023-24 due to the shortage in rainfall. This shortage was made up primarily through short-term contracts and purchases from the power exchanges, resulting in changes in the 'hydro-thermal mix' (the combination of hydel and thermal power generation) for 2023-24. The energy requirement in Kerala also exceeded the approved quantum by 2,321 mu.
The KSEB has used the average power purchase cost for 2023-24 (₹5.05 per unit) to arrive at ₹745.86 crore as the sum to be recovered from consumers. The combination of factors that led to supply shortages in 2023-24 had taken the total power purchase costs for the financial year to ₹12,982.63 crore.
