Kerala electricity supply and demand crisis

Kerala is experiencing a power crisis characterized by rising electricity demand and supply shortages. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has faced financial and operational pressure due to heavy reliance on expensive short-term external power purchases, totaling nearly ₹1,190 crore between April and August. This spending has drawn scrutiny from the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC), particularly regarding the delay in implementing a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

The crisis has been intensified by a heatwave, with temperatures rising 3 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal. This heat has driven peak-hour demand up by 500 to 800 MW. To manage the shortage, KSEB has implemented power restrictions of up to one hour in some areas and warned of potential load shedding between 6:00 pm and midnight.

Supply issues are compounded by a national electricity shortage of approximately 12,000 MW reported by the Grid Controller of India, alongside reduced availability from central generating stations and high prices in the real-time electricity market.