Since monsoon rains have failed to arrive as predicted by the Meteorological Department after September 20 the receding water levels of main hydroelectric reservoirs in Victoria, Randenigala, Rantembe, Maussakelle, Kotmale and other upcountry have reached the lowest levels in recent times.
The present levels of water in the reservoirs as an average is around 35 per cent and the contribution of hydropower stations to the national grid has come down to 20 percent now. If the rain fails in the next few weeks hydroelectric power generation could assume negligible levels.
Meteorological Department records showed no considerable rains experienced in the Central Province catchments for the past several weeks resulting in no water flowing to these reservoirs. Asked about the failure of inter-monsoon rains coming as predicted after September 20, the Duty Meteorologist Anusha Warnasuriya said thunder showers were expected in the upcountry from the next midweek though rains had failed to come during the second half of September.
The Ceylon Electricity Board has to spend over 150 million rupees weekly on fuel to run the thermal power stations. Senior CEB sources told The Nation that it was not proposed to clamp down power cuts but non-hydro power stations like Norochcholai, Kerawalapitiya and Kelanitissa will each run at full capacity.
Also the Norochcholai coal power generation plant that adds 300 megawatts of power to the national grid is closed for maintenance and would begin functioning within the next two weeks, official sources also said.
Asked whether fuel adjustment charges would be added to the electricity bills, the sources said no such suggestion or proposal had been made though the cost of producing electricity had escalated due to the water levels receding to very low levels at present.
http://www.nation.lk/2011/10/09/news9.htm
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