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Power sector PLF lowest in 7 years: Study

February 21: The Indian power sector's plant load factor (PLF), a measure of the average capacity utilisation, has been the lowest in the first nine months (April-December) of 2013-14 in seven years, according to an analyst report by UBS Securities India.

The PLF during the current year (April-December) is reported at 64.62%, which is well below 70% in FY'13, 73.3% in FY'12, 75.1% in FY'11, 77.5% in FY'10, 77.2% in FY'09 and 78.5% in FY'08.

The figures for NTPC, the country's largest utility, have been higher than the national average but show a steady decline over the period. PLF for NTPC has dropped from 92.2% in FY'08 to 79.14% in the current fiscal.

"This phenomenon is not limited to the current year; Over the years, PLFs have been falling due to lower demand for power from buyers," the report says.