Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is set to introduce a system to inform consumers in advance about power restrictions at the feeder level as the state continues to face a serious electricity shortage.
Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph has directed the Kerala State Electricity Board to inform consumers in advance when restrictions are expected in their areas. The system is expected to begin from Thursday, although the exact method of providing the information has not yet been fully explained.
The move follows complaints from consumers about unexpected power cuts. Joseph said the advance information may not always give an exact time, but it should help people prepare for restrictions in their areas.
Partial power restrictions are continuing across Kerala as available electricity remains below demand. The restrictions are being imposed mainly during the evening and night peak period, generally between about 6.30 pm and 1 am. The exact timing and duration can vary depending on local system requirements.
Kerala is currently facing a power shortfall of about 900 MW, according to the Electricity Minister. Demand has risen sharply, reaching about 5,200 MW, compared with about 3,794 MW in September last year.
Joseph said Kerala produces only about 25 percent of the electricity it consumes and depends heavily on electricity purchased from outside the state. The government has been trying to secure additional supplies through the real time market, the day ahead market and short term agreements.
However, sufficient electricity has not been available to meet demand during peak periods, forcing the state to impose temporary restrictions.
The shortage has several contributing factors. Hot weather and reduced rainfall have increased pressure on the electricity system, while poor rainfall has reduced water inflows into reservoirs and affected hydropower generation.
Kerala is also struggling to secure enough electricity from outside the state to meet demand during peak periods. The government has been looking at additional sources of supply while also giving priority to projects that can increase electricity generation.
The current restrictions have also raised questions about advance communication with consumers. The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission had earlier directed KSEB to provide consumers with information about the timing and duration of power restrictions.
The latest move by the Electricity Minister is aimed at improving advance communication at the feeder level. Consumers are expected to receive information about restrictions in their areas, although KSEB has not yet provided full details of how the new system will operate.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan has said the government is working to resolve the power problem by September 15. However, Joseph has cautioned that the crisis could continue for several more weeks.
September 15 should therefore be viewed as a government target rather than a confirmed date for the end of the restrictions.
The weather could provide some relief in the coming days. The India Meteorological Department has forecast light to moderate rain in Kerala until September 13, with isolated heavy rain expected between September 10 and 12.
Yellow alerts have been issued for some districts during this period. Rainfall could eventually improve water inflows into reservoirs and support hydropower generation, but its effect on the power shortage is not yet known.
The crisis has also revived a political dispute over a 465 MW power purchase agreement linked to the previous United Democratic Front government.
V D Satheesan has criticised the previous LDF government over the cancellation of the agreement and argued that Kerala would have been in a better position if it had remained in place.
The agreement and its cancellation have been the subject of regulatory and legal disputes. However, the claim that its cancellation alone caused the current power crisis remains a political argument and should not be treated as an established fact.
The immediate challenge for Kerala is to secure enough electricity to meet sharply higher demand while domestic hydropower generation remains under pressure.
The planned warning system will not solve the underlying shortage, but it could give households and businesses more time to prepare for temporary power restrictions. The government and KSEB will still need to secure adequate electricity supplies to meet the state's rising demand.