Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Electricity Board has explained the reason behind the unannounced 15 minute power cuts reported in many parts of the state, especially during night hours.
In a detailed note to consumers, the Kerala State Electricity Board said it understands the inconvenience faced by the public. The board also noted that people usually approach local section offices directly, which has led to tensions between consumers and staff in recent days.
KSEB clarified that the electricity system has three main divisions including generation, transmission and distribution. Due to unusually high temperatures this year, the electricity demand has increased by about 25 percent more than expected. This sudden rise has created pressure that existing power lines are struggling to handle.
Electricity reaches transformers through substations that function under the transmission wing. When overload occurs in the lines supplying these substations, a 15 minute load control is introduced across each 11 kV feeder to manage the situation.
The board warned that without such short duration control, the system could face serious failures. High capacity lines such as 110 kV, 66 kV and 220 kV could collapse under excessive load, potentially affecting the entire power grid and leading to a statewide blackout.
KSEB also explained why advance notice is not given. Information about such load control becomes available only at the time it happens, even to section offices. This makes prior announcements difficult. The control measures continue until the load reduces, which is why power cuts are seen at different times during the night.
The board further said that extending power cuts to 30 or 45 minutes could worsen the situation. When electricity returns after a longer break, appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners and inverters switch on at the same time. This sudden surge can overload transformers and cause fuse failures.
KSEB also pointed out that after the increase in solar installations, some users consume electricity without proper control during night hours. The board urged consumers to cooperate by reducing unnecessary usage in the evening peak hours from 6 pm to 12 midnight. It advised switching off unused lights, avoiding charging electric vehicles, not operating motors and limiting the use of refrigerators during this time.
According to the board, responsible use of electricity by the public can help reduce the need for such emergency load control measures.