Experts question Kerala decision to purchase power from GNA Energy
Sector experts and KSEB officials claim Himachal Pradesh power is cheaper and better matches the state's peak demand requirements.
Sector experts and officials have questioned Chief Minister VD Satheesan's justification for purchasing round-the-clock (RTC) power from GNA Energy Private Ltd, according to The New Indian Express. They claim that power from Himachal Pradesh is cheaper and matches the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) requirement.
A top KSEB official stated that the decision to buy RTC power is unjustifiable because Kerala has surplus solar power. The official noted that peak demand in Kerala occurs between 6pm to 11pm and 5am to 7am.
The official said that if 500 MW of RTC power is purchased at Rs 8.645 per unit, the daily consumption will be 12 million units (MU). Of the 12 MU offered by GNA Energy, only 4.5 MU is available during peak hours.
In contrast, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) offered variable power from small hydel projects. The official said that 7.177 MU from the HPSEB offer would be available during peak hours, matching KSEB's requirement.
KSEB submitted a note to the government stating that substituting Himachal power with the GNA offer would increase the evening peak deficit by 364 MW to 780 MW between November and March 2027. The GNA power is available only until March 2027, while Himachal power extends to May 2027.
A leader of the KSEB Officers Association (CITU) alleged that the effective price of GNA power is Rs 5.21 per unit more than HPSEB power and claimed the Chief Minister tried to justify the deal by hiding real figures.