The capacity utilisation or Plant Load Factor (PLF) of thermal power stations across the country plunged to a record low of 45 per cent during April-May of FY21 when peak lockdown shrunk electricity demand.
This is 18 per cent lower than the year ago period, a study by CARE Ratings showed, quoting figures from Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
“There was a pickup in electricity generation in May 2020 over April 2020 across both conventional and renewable sources (barring solar power) which can be attributed to the easing of the lockdown and the improvement in demand situation. Nevertheless, generation from conventional sources (thermal, hydro and nuclear sources) was 18 per cent lower than that in May 2019”, the study noted.
