Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala will receive an additional 150 megawatts of electricity from the central power pool from Tuesday, providing some relief as the Kerala State Electricity Board continues efforts to manage a serious power shortage.
The additional allocation is expected to remain available until December 31. It comes at a time when Kerala is facing unusually high electricity demand, limited domestic generation and reduced availability of power from outside the state.
The additional 150 MW is the latest confirmed increase in supply. KSEB is also exploring further purchases, including an offer from NTPC, but those additional supplies had not been fully confirmed as of September 15.
KSEB is considering an offer from NTPC to supply electricity at Rs 30 per unit. The state government has advised the board to wait for a few days and assess whether the national power shortage eases before committing to the purchase.
Reports have said the NTPC offer could involve 300 MW, but the purchase should not be treated as final until KSEB confirms that an agreement has been completed.
The high price of emergency electricity is a major concern for the state power utility. The government has indicated that ensuring adequate electricity supply is the immediate priority, even though higher procurement costs could increase the financial burden on KSEB.
The power shortage has developed as electricity demand in Kerala has risen sharply during a period when demand would normally be lower because of the monsoon.
KSEB Chairman and Managing Director M G Rajamanickam said peak hour demand had risen to around 4,800 MW to 5,000 MW from June, compared with around 4,000 MW during the monsoon season in earlier years.
Recent reports have put peak demand above 5,000 MW on some days. Higher temperatures and reduced rainfall have contributed to the increase in demand and pressure on the state's power system.
Kerala also depends heavily on electricity from outside the state. KSEB's maximum internal generation capacity is around 1,750 MW, most of it from hydropower. The state receives about 1,500 MW from the central grid and depends on other contracted and short term sources to meet the remaining demand.
The wider national power situation has made the problem more difficult. KSEB has cited a national power shortage of around 12,000 MW, reducing the availability of electricity through the power exchange.
Lower rainfall has added to the pressure on Kerala's hydropower resources. The average water level in the state's power generating reservoirs was reported at 62.34 percent, compared with 78.96 percent during the same period last year.
The lower reservoir levels limit hydropower generation and increase Kerala's dependence on electricity purchased from other states and the national grid.
KSEB has been using several short term arrangements to manage the shortage. On September 14, additional electricity was sourced through GRIDCO in Odisha, ACBIL, a power swap arrangement with Madhya Pradesh and the power exchange.
KSEB procured 100 MW through GRIDCO Odisha and another 15 MW from ACBIL. Another 100 MW was available through the Madhya Pradesh power swap arrangement for a limited period that night.
On September 13, Kerala's total electricity consumption was 89.08 million units, while peak demand reached 4,983 MW. Internal generation accounted for 18.40 million units, while 70.68 million units were procured from outside the state.
The figures highlight Kerala's dependence on external electricity at a time when supplies are tight across the country.
The additional 150 MW available from Tuesday should provide some short term relief, although the underlying shortage remains.
KSEB has appealed to consumers to reduce unnecessary electricity use, particularly during the evening period when demand is highest. Managing consumption during peak hours remains an important part of the state's efforts to prevent further pressure on the electricity system.
For Kerala, the immediate challenge is to secure enough electricity to meet rising demand without placing excessive financial pressure on the state power utility.
The additional central allocation is an important step towards easing the shortage, but it does not mean that the power crisis has been resolved. Further improvement will depend on national electricity availability, rainfall and reservoir levels, power purchases and KSEB's ability to secure additional supplies in the coming days.