Kerala State Electricity Board

Kerala State Electricity Board Limited

Type	Public Sector Company
Industry	Electricity generation, transmission, distribution
Founded	31 March 1957
Headquarters	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Area served	Kerala, India
Key people	Elangovan Chairman & managing director
Products	Electricity
Website	kseb.in

Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd (KSEBLtd) is a public sector agency under the Government of Kerala, India, that generates,transmits and distributes the electricity supply in the state. Established in 1957, the agency comes under the authority of the Department of Power.

General

The Kerala State Electricity Board, constituted by the Government of Kerala, by order dated 7 March 1957, under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 is in the business of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of electricity and striving to provide quality electricity at affordable cost to all classes of consumers in the state of Kerala. As per section 172 (a) of the Electricity Act 2003 and as mutually decided by the Government of India and Government of Kerala, KSEB has continued as Transmission utility and Distribution licensee till 24 September 2008. In exercise of powers conferred under sub-sections (1), (2), (5), (6) and (7) of section 131 of the Electricity Act, 2003, State Government vide the notification G.O (Ms).37/2008/PD dated 25 September 2008 has vested all functions, properties, interests, rights, obligations and liabilities of KSEB with the State Government till it is re-vested the same in a corporate entity. Accordingly, KSEB has been continuing all the functions as a Generator, State Transmission Utility and a Distribution Licensee in the State. Kerala State Electricity Board commenced functioning on 31 March 1957 After Noon as per order no. EL1-6475/56/PW dated 7 March 1957 of the Kerala State Government. It had 5 members with Sri K P Sreedharan Nair as chairman. All the staff belonging to the erstwhile Electricity Department was transferred to the Board. The 'Board' consisting of the chairman and the Members is the Supreme Governing Body. The State Government by their notification EL3-9345 dated 21 February 1958 constituted the State Electricity Consultative Council under section 16 of the Electricity Supply Act. The Council functions as consultative body and the Board is required to place before the council the annual financial statement and supplementary statements if any before submitting such statements to the State Government. The 'Board' consisting of the chairman and the Members is the Supreme Governing Body. The Board consists of seven members and is headed by the chairman. The Government of Kerala and KSE Board issued orders for the restructuring of KSE Board into profit centres in April 2002. Members head the profit centres. There is a Corporate Office to co-ordinate and control the activities of the Board.

After the enactment of Electricity Act, 2003, KSEB has been functioning as the State Transmission Utility (STU) and a distribution licensee w.e.f 10 December 2004 under section 172(a) of the Electricity Act, 2003. The Central Government had approved the continuation of KSEB as a State Transmission Utility & Licensee only up to 24 September 2008. In exercise of the powers conferred under sub-sections (1), (2), (5), (6) and (7) of section 131 and section 133 of the Electricity Act 2003 (Central Act 36 of 2003) the Government of Kerala had issued notification vide G.O. (MS) No.37/2008/PD, Dated, Thiruvananthapuram, 25 September 2008 for the purpose of vesting of functions, properties, interests, rights, obligations and liabilities of the Kerala State Electricity Board in the State Government on such terms as agreed to by the Kerala State Electricity Board and the State Government and re¬vesting thereof by the State Government in a Corporate entity and also for the transfer of Personnel of the Board to the Corporate entity and for determining the terms and conditions on which such transfers and vesting shall be made. Accordingly, with effect from 25 September 2008, all the functions, properties and all interests, rights in properties, all rights and liabilities of the Board are vested in the State Government.KSEB was converted to Kerala State Electricity Board Limited in 2014. The original KSEB was dissolved and its assets and liabilities were transferred from government to the newly formed company KSEB Limited

History

The history of electricity in the state is around one century old. The first effort in this direction was a private endeavour. Like many other modern infrastructure facilities, electricity also was first brought to the state by a British company – the Kannan Devan Hill Produce Company, Munnar. The first generating station of the state was set up on the right bank of a tributary of River Periyar in 1940. It was a hydroelectric project and that tributary named Mudirappuzha continues to be the site of large a number of hydroelectric projects in the state.

After a spell of 17 years, the attention of the state authorities turned to newer forms of generating energy. The Government of Travancore set up a facility to supply electricity to the households of Thiruvananthapuram town. In 1927, a Thermal Power Station was established under government ownership at Thiruvananthapuram for production of electrical energy on commercial lines. Three oil engine generators, of a capacity of 65 kW each, were installed and commercial production started in 1929.This station was located at Thampanoor at Thiruvananthapuram. An Electrical Wing under the State Public Works Department was entrusted with the administration of the scheme.

The next significant development was the formation of a separate department for electricity in 1932 by His Highness Sri Chithirathirunal Maharaja and his Diwan Sir C P Ramaswami Iyer. The formation of the Electricity Department paved the way for notable developments in the field. Thermal generating stations were set up at Kollam, Kottayam and Nagercoil (now in Tamil Nadu) in 1934. By that time, the possibilities of hydroelectric generation attracted the attention of the technologists and the authorities.

Kerala being a land of mountains and rivers, it presented a fertile field for hydroelectric generation. The vast potential for hydroelectric generation in the state prompted the state authorities to take steps to establish stations for hydroelectric generation. The first of these ventures was the Pallivasal Hydroelectric Project, the construction of which was started in 1933. The first stage of the project was commissioned in 1940. Its capacity was 13.5 mW. By that time, a comparable electric transmission network had also been completed with 66 kV substations at Alappuzha, Mavelikkara, Kothamangalam, Kundara, Kalamasserry, Viyyur, Aluva, and Thiruvananthapuram, which were also commissioned in 1940 itself during April -May months

The Kerala state Electricity board started functioning under the direction of a newly formed Kerala government, on 31 March 1957.^[1] The first governing body consisted of 5 members, and was headed by the chairman K P Sreedhara Kaymal. The staff of the erstwhile Department of Electricity of the Thiru-Kochi state were transferred to the KSEB.

At the time of its inception, in 1958, the KSEB had an installed capacity of 109.5 MW, with a total annual internal generation of 441.35 MU. Over the years, as demand increased, the board has imported power from neighbouring states and private entities.

The board has also set up several more hydel power stations within the state. As of 2008, the KSEB Ltd has a total installed capacity of State to 2657.24 MW and a consumer base of over 9,159,399.

As per the Central Electricity Act 2003, KSEB was converted to Kerala State Electricity Board Limited in 2014. The original KSEB was dissolved and its assets and liabilities transferred to the government initially and then transferred to the newly formed company KSEB Limited.

Studies made by Electricity finance expert Dr D Shina in 2007 recommended retention of KSEB in Public sector.

Generation

The Idukki Dam

KSEB Ltd has 23 hydro-electric projects, two diesel power plants and one wind farm. The total installed capacity is 2886.51 MW. They are

• Hydro Electric Projects (2107.91 MW)
  • Idukki (780.00 MW)
  • Sabarigiri (340 MW)
  • Idamalayar (75 MW)
  • Sholayar (54 MW)
  • Pallivasal (37.5 MW)
  • Kuttiyadi (225 MW)
  • Panniar (32.4 MW)
  • Neriamangalam (77.65 MW)
  • Lower Periyar (180 MW)
  • Peringalkuthu & PLBE (52 MW)
  • Sengulam (51.2 MW)
  • Kakkad (50 MW)
• Small Hydro Electric Projects (52.85 MW)
  • Kallada (15 MW)
  • Peppara (3 MW)
  • Malankara (10.5 MW)
  • Madupatty (2 MW)
  • Malampuzha (2.5 MW)
  • Lower Meenmutty (3.5 MW)
  • Chembukadavu – 1 (2.7 MW)
  • Chembukadavu – 2 (3.7 MW)
  • Urumi −1 (3.75 MW)
  • Urumi −2 (2.4 MW)
  • Kuttiyadi Tail Race (3.75 MW)
  • Peechi (1.25 MW)
• Thermal Projects (234.6 MW)
  • Brahmapuram Diesel Power Plant (63.96 MW)
  • Kozhikode Diesel Power Plant (96 MW)
• Non-conventional energy (52 MW)
  • Kasaragod Solar power park 50MW(Ambalathara)
  • Kanjikode Wind Farm (2 MW)
• Power project under construction

* Kasaragod Solar power park phase 2 (Paivalike)-- 50 MW
  The KSEB has done a triplicate agreement with THDC INDIA and SECI for construction of a 50 MW solar power at Kommangala near to the Paivalike of kasaragod district at 300 Acre land. The land survey for the power plant is now going on.

Transmission

The Kerala power system grid is connected to the Southern Region Transmission system through two 400 kV double circuit lines. They are

• Udumalpet- Madakkathara line
• Thiruneveli- Pallippuram( Trivandrum) line
• Mysore – Kozhikode line

There are 6 major inter-state transmission lines at 220 kV level and 110 kV level.

The 220 kV lines are:

• Kaniyampetta- Kadakola(single circuit).
• Idukki – Udumalpet(single circuit).
• Sabarigiri – Theni (single circuit).
• Edamon – Tirunelveli(double circuit).

The 110 kV lines are:

• Parassala – Kuzhithura and
• Manjeswaram – Konake.

The major substations include four 400 kV substations, and 17 220 kV substations. The main grid comprises the 220 kV systems. The transmission sector of KSEB comprises two zones namely North and South. The State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) located at Kalamassery.

400 kV Substations at Pallipuram – Thiruvananthapuram, Pallikkara – Kochi and Palakkad are owned by PGCIL. It is the first 400 kV substation in Kerala.

Distribution

KSEB Ltd distributes electricity in the State of Kerala except in the administrative region of Thrissur Municipal Corporation and Munnar (Kannan Devan Hills). For operational conveniences the distribution wing is divided into three zones: South, Central, and North.

Kerala State Load Dispatch Centre

The State Load Dispatch Center is the apex body to ensure integrated operation of the power system in Kerala. It is the strategic functional unit of State Electricity Board Limited,for discharging various functions specified under Section 32 of Indian Electricity Act 2003.

• Be responsible for optimum scheduling and dispatch of electricity within a State, in accordance with the contracts entered into with the licensees or the generating companies operating in that State;
• Monitor grid operations
• Keep accounts of the quantity of electricity transmitted through the State grid
• Exercise supervision and control over the intrastate transmission system
• Be responsible for carrying out real time operations for grid control and dispatch of electricity within the State through secure and economic operation of the State grid in accordance with the Grid Standards and the State Grid Code.

See also

• Photovoltaic power station
• Supercritical steam generator
• Waste-to-energy
• Pressurized water reactor
• Pumped-storage hydroelectricity
• Hydroelectricity
• Tidal power/Wave power
• Incineration
• biomass-fired power station
• Geothermal electricity

References

External links

• Official site
• ORUMA: the result of KSEB’s concerted efforts: 'The Hindu'
• Electricity Industry in Public Sector in India