Huge purchase bill blackens KSEB image

Power purchase expenses of KSEB exceeded its income by Rs 318 crore during 2012-13, as per the income and expenditure figures approved by the board on Monday.
Huge purchase bill blackens KSEB image

Power purchase expenses of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) exceeded its income by Rs 318 crore during 2012-13, as per the income and expenditure figures approved by the board on Monday.

Interestingly, the KSEB’s income during 2012-'13 had clocked 28 per cent increase (from Rs 5817 crore to Rs 7447 crore) over the previous fiscal.

But this achievement was diminished by the huge power purchase bill. The failed monsoons in 2012 and the consequent power crisis, however, forced the KSEB to spend a whopping Rs 7765 crore on power purchases.

To meet the soaring summer demand that year, the power utility was forced to purchase additional and costly electricity from liquid fuel stations such as the Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Project at Kayamkulam, at an exorbitant price.

The KSEB had also been pulled up by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission at the time for poor planning on long-term power purchases.

As per the figures approved on Monday, the board also spent Rs 175 crore on salary per month and Rs 17 crore per month on administrative expenses.

Repairs and maintenance expenses cost the board Rs 21 crore per month.

Talcher Back on Track Kerala received 300 MW from the Talcher power station in Andhra Pradesh on Monday averting any immediate crisis, but KSEB officials are keeping their fingers crossed regarding the electricity ‘forecast’ for the next few days.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com