The Hindu : Business : Power sector to play key role in development

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Saturday, Nov 25, 2006
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Power sector to play key role in development

Staff Reporter

National convention of electrical engineers begins

KOCHI: Power sector has been identified as a critical area for growth and development of the economy. India has drawn up a plan to add around 1,00,000 MW of generation capacity, according to C. Balakrishnan, Chairman of Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

He was inaugurating 22nd national convention of electrical engineers, organised by the Institution of Engineers (India) here on Friday.

Mr. Balakrishnan said the measures initiated by the commission helped the Kerala State Electricity Board to make a turn around.

The board would be making a profit exceeding Rs.100 crore during the current year, he said. The meeting honoured engineers C.V.J. Varma, K. Gopalan, D.J. Ramesh and R. Ananthasubrahmanya Iyer for distinguished services.

0It was presided over by R. Radhakrishna Murthy, Chairman, Electrical Engineering Division Board, Institution of Engineers (India).

E. Kurien Mathew, Chairman, Cochin local centre of IEI, and K.K. Goplakrishnan Nair, general convener of the organising committee, were among those who addressed the meeting.

Bhanubhushan, member, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, who spoke on `availability tariff', said the mechanism drastically streamlined the operation of regional grids in India. The grid parameters like frequency and voltage had improved. Correspondingly, equipment damage was reduced.

During peak load hours, frequency could be improved only by reducing drawal and necessary incentives were provided in the mechanism for the same.

High frequency situation is being checked by encouraging reduction in generation during off-peak hours. The system ensures an overall reduction in generation cost while catering to more consumer load, he said.

The two-day meeting will discuss various issues pertaining to generation, distribution, tariff and related issues. Some of the topics covered in the talks on Friday included power reforms, management of distribution business, mitigation of power quality problems and innovative metering.

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