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Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Authority (KSERC) has asked industrial consumers to voluntarily observe austerity in consumption of electricity.
Dedicated/exclusive high-tension (HT) feeders may be exempted from load shedding if peak load restrictions are imposed on all connected HT consumers.
PEAK HOUR
All other HT and EHT (extra high-tension) consumers must limit consumption during peak hours to 75 per cent of normal average peak consumption with immediate effect, an interim KSERC order issued on Wednesday said.
If the power position continues to be bad even after the northeast monsoon, Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) may furnish necessary inputs to the commission.
Details of consumption and the reduction achieved during peak hours by these consumers may be submitted by the end of November 2012.
The commission will issue its final orders on the present petition of KSEB on reviewing the situation thereafter.
FERVENT APPEAL
It made a fervent appeal to all consumers to reduce electricity consumption to the maximum extent possible and cooperate with KSEB to tide over the crisis.
It also said that a surcharge may be payable by all consumers on the actual consumption from October to March next as per the relevant provisions.
The commission ordered that power shall not be used for display lighting, hoarding, external illumination of buildings and other publicity and sales promotion purposes. Distribution licensees, including KSEB, shall be free to discontinue supply to consumers using power for such purposes.
CRITICAL SITUATION
The commission directed KSEB to initiate immediate action for medium-term and long-term power purchase and aggressive promotional steps for alternative sources to avoid dependence on high-cost liquid power sources in future.
Earlier, the KSEB had submitted to the commission that the power situation had become most critical due to the combined impact of a number of factors, including failure of the monsoon and consequent reduction in inflow and hydel generation.
The southwest monsoon contributes about 65 per cent of the total inflow. Considering the trend, the northeast monsoon is also likely to be less than normal, it said.
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