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Kerala electricity supply and demand crisis

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2026-09-13 13:42 UTC → 2026-10-03 10:34 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Kerala’s power crisis has intensified as extreme heat and supply failures drive electricity demand to record levels. Temperatures remaining 3 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal have pushed peak-hour demand up by as much as 800 MW. To manage shortages, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has implemented power restrictions of up to one hour in some areas, with warnings of further load shedding between 6:00 pm and midnight if grid frequency and exchange availability continue to decline. Recent developments show demand reaching 5,200 MW, a significant increase from the 4,000 MW recorded during the same period last year. Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph noted that the state generates only approximately 25% of its required electricity, leaving it heavily dependent on the central grid and external agreements. This dependency has become a vulnerability; for instance, the state has failed to receive contracted power from Madhya Pradesh, as delivery is contingent upon that state maintaining a surplus. Compounding the issue, reduced rainfall has lowered reservoir inflows, negatively impacting hydel generation. While KSEB has proposed restrictions of up to 75 minutes per day through multiple rounds of cuts, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission has rejected proposals to purchase power at higher rates, arguing such agreements would not sufficiently address nighttime shortages. These local challenges occur against a backdrop of a 12,000 MW national electricity shortage reported by the Grid Controller of India. To mitigate these shortages, KSEB has secured a power supply agreement with the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB). Under this deal, HPSEB will supply 600 MW of power during peak hours from October 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027. KSEB Chairman M G Rajamanickam stated the decision followed unsuccessful attempts to maintain short-term supplies from Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

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