KSEB urges AC users to set temp between 25 and 27 degrees as power consumption surges

Electricity consumption in Kerala surpassed 11 crore units for the first time in history. On Monday, consumption peaked at 11.01039 crore units, with the evening load reaching a record-breaking 5487 MW.

KSEB guidelines
In light of the high consumption, the KSEB has requested the public to reduce power consumption wherever possible. The Board has asked consumers to maintain the AC temperature at 25 to 27 degree Celsius.

"The load on the transformers exceeds the permissible limit after 10 pm everyday. The use of ACs in particular is increasing disproportionately. The increase in load causes fuses to blow and leads to significant voltage drops on the lines," the KSEB said.

As consumers with three-phase connections are switching to single phase by using selector switches and consumers with a load of over 5000 watts are not shifting to three-phase connections, there is a distribution grid overload.

Though the use of ACs during the night cannot be controlled in the current circumstances, the KSEB has requested consumers to postpone the activities that can be kept aside till daytime. This includes washing and ironing clothes. Similarly, the use of pump sets can be limited. The functioning of ACs in three rooms should be reduced to two if possible. Automatic water filling systems can be disabled to operate pumps during the day. Unnecessary electricity consumption during night time should be reduced as much as possible, the Board said.

Power supply
Although electricity is available in the market, costs remain high. However, with the completion of the Edamon-Kochi 400 KV Power Highway and the Punalur-Madakkathara line, there's an additional capacity to import 2550 MW of electricity from outside sources.

The board faces an extra expenditure of Rs 25.25 crore per day for purchasing electricity. Despite the government's agreement to settle the water authority's arrears in 10 instalments of Rs 208 crore each, the board has yet to receive even the first instalment.

To meet demand, the board has initiated tendering for the purchase of 500 MW in the evening starting from April 15, spanning across one and a half months.