Karnataka: Lockdown dries up demand for power resulting in ‘idling of assets’

Even as Karnataka is progressing gradually towards peak summer; it has one less worry this time around – demand for power. Summer is the time when demand for power peaks. But thanks to Covid-19 lockdown, the state is witnessing an “idling of assets” as V Ponnuraj, managing director, Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd described it. This idling is taking place for Karnataka’s power demand has slumped to less than 50 per cent of the normal.

KPCL that has installed capacity of 8846MW ranging from 0.35 MW to 1720 MW at Raichur is seeing a demand of only 40 per cent of this capacity. KPCL accounts for 95.37 million units (MU) of the total state consumption of 254.94 MU as on April 14 including 43.94 MU from thermal, 51.115 MU from hydro and 0.15 MU from non-conventional sources. Other power producers – private and those under central government generate 156.63 MU of power.

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