Kerala has decided to restrict the cyclical 30-minute load-shedding from Monday to only evening hours from 6.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. This represents a change from the original schedule that had proposed a morning cycle of the same duration.
A spokesman for the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) said the change in schedule was being affected to accommodate public convenience. The decision was taken at a meeting of members of the board late last night.
The meeting further decided to impose a restriction on the use of power by high-tension and extra high-tension consumers.
They would now be able to use up to 80 per cent of their normal power consumption at the normal tariffs applicable to them. For anything in excess, they would pay at the rate at which the KSEB buys electricity from the Kayamkulam station of NTPC (currently around Rs 11 a unit).
In another decision, the KSEB meeting has raised the retirement age of its employees from 55 to 56 years. This was in line with a State Government decision announced as part of the Budget speech of the Finance Minister, Mr K.M. Mani.