Despite higher sales, CESC said, it has shown a loss of Rs 15 crore in the three months to June 30, 2000, against a net profit of Rs 2 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

The RP Goenka controlled company said sales and other income went up in the first quarter of 2000-01. Sales increased by around 10 per cent to Rs 479 crore from Rs 436 in the same period last year.

CESC bought less power from outside agencies as it switched on the second 250mw unit of the Budge Budge thermal plant. Other income increased to Rs 22 crore in the first quarter ending to June 30, 2000, from Rs 21 crore in the same period of previous fiscal. The company had recorded an other income of Rs 79 crore in the 12-month fiscal of 1999-2000.

Interest cost went up by over 37 per cent to Rs 103 crore in the quarter to June 30, 2000, from Rs 75 crore in the same period of fiscal 1999-2000. In the 12 months to March 31, 2000, CESC shelled out Rs 381 crore as interest.

Depreciation increased by around 47 per cent to Rs 72 crore in the first quarter of 2000, from Rs 49 crore in the same period of previous fiscal. In the full-year to March 31, 2000, depreciation was Rs 196 crore. The company said net profit had been hit by an additional charge of Rs 22 crore for depreciation and Rs 23 crore for interest. Together, they added Rs 45 crore by way of additional debit to the profit & loss account.

A company release said that there was a Rs 28 crore improvement in operations because of higher sales and lower power purchases from outside agencies. It has been substituted by efficient generation from the Budge Budge plant. Company officials said that the plant load factor has increased to 84 per cent in the latest quarter, from 67 per cent in the same period of previous fiscal.