Thiruvananthapuram: Power restrictions are continuing in Kerala as the state struggles to meet unusually high electricity demand, with Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph saying there is still no clear date for the restoration of normal supply.
The government is trying to secure additional electricity from other states and power generating agencies. Kerala is expected to receive an additional 300 MW under new arrangements with Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, according to reports.
Under the arrangement, Uttar Pradesh is expected to provide 200 MW, while Kerala will receive 100 MW from Himachal Pradesh during peak hours through a power swap. Kerala will return 100 MW to Himachal Pradesh during the daytime.
The Uttar Pradesh supply was expected to begin reaching Kerala on Thursday. The additional power is expected to provide some relief, but it will cover only part of the state's reported shortage during periods of high demand.
Kerala's electricity shortage has reached around 900 MW during periods of high demand. At the same time, peak electricity demand in the state has crossed 5,000 MW in September, putting additional pressure on the power system.
The main difficulty is particularly acute during the evening and night, when electricity consumption rises sharply. KSEB has said that sufficient electricity has not always been available through the power exchange when the state needs additional supply during peak hours.
KSEB Chairman M G Rajamanickam has said demand has remained unusually high until late at night. The board has therefore had to impose restrictions during peak periods to manage the available supply.
Solar power helps meet part of Kerala's electricity requirement during the daytime, but the state does not yet have enough battery energy storage capacity to shift sufficient electricity to the evening peak.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan said on Wednesday that the government expected to bring the crisis under control within a week. He said Kerala had approached eight states and several power producers to secure additional electricity.
Satheesan said Kerala had arranged 150 MW through resale arrangements and another 150 MW from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India at Rs 4.65 per unit.
KSEB also secured an additional 150 MW from central generating stations, according to recent reports.
However, Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph said on Thursday that he could not give a definite date for the restoration of normal supply. The two statements refer to different aspects of the situation, with the Chief Minister speaking about bringing the crisis under control while the minister said there was no confirmed date for complete normalisation.
The wider Indian power system has also been under pressure from high demand and reduced availability from some generating sources. Coal availability has been cited as one of the factors affecting generation, although the national power situation involves several factors.
In Kerala, the shortage reflects several pressures, including high local demand, limited internal generation, reduced hydropower availability and difficulties in securing additional electricity during peak hours.
The state's hydropower position is another concern. Kerala depends heavily on hydropower, making electricity generation sensitive to rainfall and reservoir levels. Lower than expected inflows have limited the state's ability to rely more heavily on hydropower as demand rises.
The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has also approved additional peak hour power procurement for the coming months.
In its September 11 decision, the regulator approved the purchase of 346.42 million units of peak hour electricity between October 2026 and May 15, 2027. The estimated cost of the approved procurement is Rs 347.79 crore.
KSEB had originally sought approval to procure 835.50 million units over the period at an estimated cost of Rs 749.72 crore. The regulator did not approve the full proposal.
The decision highlights one of the main difficulties facing Kerala. The state needs more electricity during the evening and night, while daytime demand is lower and solar generation helps meet part of the requirement. The regulator had raised concerns that some round the clock purchases could result in excess electricity during periods of lower demand without adequately addressing the peak shortage.
The government is also looking at battery energy storage and pumped storage projects as longer term measures. Sunny Joseph has said machinery needed for some battery storage projects expected to be commissioned in October has not yet arrived from China, delaying their progress.
For now, the government is focusing on securing enough electricity to manage the immediate shortage while preparing longer term procurement and storage arrangements.
Consumers have also been asked to reduce electricity use between 6 pm and midnight, when demand is highest.
The latest developments show that Kerala has secured some additional power, but electricity restrictions are continuing and the government has not given a definite date for the restoration of normal supply.