During April and May this year, the KPCL hydel stations generated 1,873 MU of energy as against 1,161 MU last year, an increase of 62 per cent. This was possible because of the excellent functioning of the machines and overall availability factor of 90 per cent compared to 84.5 per cent in the previous year. The machines have also run efficiently with lower auxilliary power consumption of 0.9 per cent compared to 1.5 per cent in the previous year.

For the first two months of 1998-99, the 1035 MW Sharavathi station generated 902 MU of power compared to 619 MU last year. The 825 MW Nagjhari Power House generated 620 MU as against 327 MU last year, while the Varahi Underground Power House generated 150 MU, the same as the previousfiscal.

The hydel units of KPCL, which generated 1,873 MU during April and May this year surpassed the target of 1,803 MU set for them.

During the first two months the Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) which houses an 840 MW capacity, generated 1083 MU compared to 1,011 MU in the same period last year.

The performance on the thermal side has been accompanied by machine availability of 97 per cent, auxilliary consumption of 7.7 per cent as compared to 8.21 per cent last year.

The annual target for RTPS this year is 5,600 MU compared to 5,538 MU achieved last year. The RTPS achieved a plant load factor of 75 per cent in 1997-98.

With the monsoon already making an appearance in Kerala and the meteorological department forecasting normal monsoon for Karnataka, Karnataka Power Corporation is all set to surpass its targets in hydel power generation during the current fiscal.