With the coal shortage, that has hit thermal power stations, likely to persist, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) on Friday decided to avoid supply restrictions by opting for power purchases at a higher cost to meet peak-hour deamand.
The KSEB director board, which reviewed the power situation, decided to source an additional 250 MW daily at a per-unit cost of up to ₹20 till May 31. To enable this, the ₹12 rate ceiling fixed for the short-term day-ahead market has been relaxed.
The decision entails an additional spending of ₹30 crore to ₹50 crore on power purchases, KSEB chairman and managing director B. Ashok said.
