Saturday’s Earth Hour observance seems to have done its bit to ease the Kerala State Electricity Board’s (KSEB) summer burden. For the past many days, daily consumption had been going steady above 68 million units (MU), but on Saturday it was down to 67.39 MU.
“On Friday also, the consumption was above 68 MU, so the Earth Hour might have contributed to Saturday’s slight decrease,” a KSEB spokesperson said.
Taking a cue from the WWF-sponsored campaign, the power-starved KSEB had urged its consumers and 33,000-strong employee population to switch off unwanted lights and electrical appliances for one hour from 8.30 pm on Saturday.
This is the fourth year the KSEB is participating in the global event. This year, summer power consumption has exceeded the KSEB projections for March.
Since March 22, the consumption stood below the 68 MU mark only on three days. Of this, March 23 was a Sunday, a day consumption is anyway low state-wide. But consumption on March 23 of 63.19 MU was arguably the highest to date on a Sunday.
In the beginning of the year, the KSEB projections for March 2014 said the consumption could average 67 MU. In fact, the 1.1 crore consumers of the KSEB have broken all records this summer. The consumption of 68.40 MU on March 25 remains the highest to date in the state.
Last week, Karnataka dealt a blow to the KSEB by ordering power generating companies not to export power outside the state. This was done by invoking Section 11 of the Electricity Act. This led to a shortage of over 300 MW daily in Kerala.
The KSEB has now approached the High Court and obtained a stay on the Karnataka decision. And, as on Sunday, the hydel reservoirs in the state have enough water to generate 1730.95 MU. This is the highest since 2011.