Kerala: Power consumption shoots up

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: March has introduced a grim twist to the Kerala State Electricity Board’s (KSEB) fortunes. Daily power consumption has shot over the 59-million unit (MU) mark on each of the first three days of the month signalling tougher days ahead for the power utility.On Friday, the total power consumption stood at 59.83 MU, which, in fact, is a state record.The 2012 summer will also have the distinction of being the first when power consumption has touched 59 MU in the state.According to the predictions made by the KSEB in January, the average monthly consumption during March would be around 58.10 MU. The state is generating around 23 MU daily from the hydel stations in the state with half of it met from the 780-MW Idukki hydel project.It is not just the searing summer heat that is contributing to the woes, according to KSEB officials. March is also the exam season and a favourite month for religious festivals. The KSEB is praying for summer showers. “We are sure that if the temperature cools down a bit, then consumption would also go down correspondingly,” a KSEB spokesperson said.