Coal power plants’ PLF slips to below 50% on falling electricity demand

Utilisation level of coal power plants — many of which are already distressed due to lack of adequate demand and coal supply issues — touched an all-time low in October, with their average plant load factor (PLF) at 48.9% amid falling electricity usage.

Conventional power generating companies are undergoing additional pressure with pan-India electricity demand falling for the third straight month in October, as first reported by FE. From available data, the lowest annual average thermal PLF was recorded at 52.4% in FY86.