The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Load-shedding from tomorrow

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Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008
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Kerala - Kochi

Load-shedding from tomorrow

Special Correspondent

Between 6.30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

KOCHI: Electricity load-shedding will begin only on Wednesday, and not on New Year’s Day as announced earlier.

For probably two weeks, power supply will be regulated for half an hour between 6.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. The time will vary from place to place depending on power-consumption pattern, an official said. The Kerala State Electricity Board has said that load-shedding is needed because of a shortfall in generation when five hydroelectric stations in Idukki district are shut down for 15 days and cut in supply from the central power grid. Supply from the grid has been gradually falling — the State’s share was cut by 50 MW last week.

The power stations are being turned off for draining the tunnel in the Kallarkutty reservoir. This is to facilitate last-stage work on the 25-MW Neriamangalam Extension Scheme. The stations will be repaired.

The Mattupatty station will be turned off on Tuesday; Pallivasal (the first hydel project commissioned in Kerala), Chenkulam and Neriamangalam stations on Wednesday; and the Lower Periyar station on Thursday. To drain the tunnel, the Kallarkutty dam will be opened on Wednesday.

The Mattupatty station, the smallest of the five, has a capacity to generate 2 MW power. The total capacity of the five stations is about 320 MW, of which the Lower Periyar’s share is 180 MW.

The Lower Periyar station uses the water let out by the other stations, all located in the Muthirappuzha basin.

Since these stations are being shut down, Lower Periyar will not get sufficient water for generation. Moreover, its generators were damaged in the unscheduled flushing of the Kallarkutty reservoir in January-February and need urgent repairs. Power consumption is at the highest between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

The Board has urged consumers to help it get over the crisis by switching off at least a couple of lights and not using mixies, grinders, washing machines and irons during the peak hours.

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