KSERC moots premium price for power used at night hrs

Thiruvananthapuram: In a move that could further take the lustre off rooftop solar units in households, Kerala state electricity regulatory commission (KSERC) has recommended KSEB to explore options to introduce dynamic pricing of electricity used by all domestic consumers. The commission’s recommendation, if implemented, could deny prosumers the opportunity to swap solar power generated by them during daytime with the high cost power supplied by KSEB during night.

The commission recommended that all consumers should be given power at a cheaper rate during daytime (solar hours) and charge premium price from all consumers for using power during night. Currently, power is available at a 10% discount for domestic consumers with ToD meter and small-scale industrial units. ToD meter is applicable for those who consume more than 250 units of power a month. Under ToD tariff, price for power is higher during night time. The commission asked the board to carry out a detailed study and submit a report on the feasibility of the proposals in two months.

What prompted the commission to push higher price for peak-hour power is the price difference for power during daytime and night. With the solar getting popular, electricity is available as cheap as Rs 2 per unit during daytime. However, the same goes up to Rs 10 during night. The demand for power in the state during day time is only up tko 3,500 MW and the same jumps to 5,500 MW during night hours, forcing the board to swap high-cost power with low-cost solar power. The commission has also wanted the KSEB to carry out a detailed study on the changing consumption pattern in Kerala and submit the report in three months.