Published Apr 25, 2026 | 2:21 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 25, 2026 | 2:21 PM
Electricity. (Representative image)
Synopsis: The crisis has been compounded by persistent heat and minimal rainfall, pushing households to rely heavily on cooling appliances, especially air conditioners, which have rapidly transitioned from luxury to necessity. Electricity consumption has consistently hovered above 110 million units (MU) in recent days, with a peak of 117.15 MU recorded on April 18.
Kerala is grappling with a surge in unannounced power cuts and “load restrictions” as electricity demand soars to record levels during an intense summer.
What began as scattered outages has now become a widespread concern across both urban and rural areas, disrupting daily life as residents struggle to cope with frequent interruptions lasting between 15 minutes and half an hour—often without prior notice.
Though authorities have avoided officially terming the situation as “load shedding,” the reality on the ground suggests otherwise.
Feeders are being intermittently shut down to manage demand, particularly during peak evening hours, when consumption is at its highest.
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The crisis has been compounded by persistent heat and minimal rainfall, pushing households to rely heavily on cooling appliances, especially air conditioners, which have rapidly transitioned from luxury to necessity.
Electricity consumption has consistently hovered above 110 million units (MU) in recent days, with a peak of 117.15 MU recorded on April 18.
Notably, a significant portion of this demand—over 80 MU daily—is being met through power purchases from outside the state.
Peak load has also touched unprecedented levels, crossing 6000 MW in the evening hours and briefly spiking to 6195 MW late on April 23.
The worsening power situation has triggered a sharp political confrontation.
Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan has accused the government of misleading the public with claims of uninterrupted power supply over the past decade.
He alleged that the current crisis is the direct result of “misguided decisions” by the state government, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), and the Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Satheesan specifically pointed to the cancellation of a long-term power purchase agreement during the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) government led by Oommen Chandy.
According to him, the deal would have ensured 465 MW of electricity at an average cost of ₹4.29 per unit until 2040. Its termination, he claimed, has forced the state to procure power at significantly higher rates—between ₹6 and ₹12 per unit—resulting in daily losses of ₹15–20 crore.
He further alleged corruption behind the cancellation, claiming it benefited private companies to the tune of ₹2000 crore while burdening the state exchequer.
Warning of public agitation, Satheesan demanded an immediate rollback of the “undeclared load shedding” and a transparent probe into the decisions taken by the regulatory bodies and the government.
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Meanwhile, Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty denied the existence of any officially imposed power restrictions, attributing the outages to technical issues caused by excessive load on transformers.
He described the disruptions as “natural regulation,” explaining that power supply may trip automatically when the system is overloaded.
Appealing for public cooperation, the minister urged consumers to adopt self-regulation, particularly during peak hours.
He suggested limiting the use of high-consumption appliances such as heaters, washing machines, and air conditioners during the evening.
Meanwhile, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) acknowledged the unprecedented spike in demand and the resulting strain on the transmission and distribution network.
The utility stated that it is maximizing domestic generation and procuring additional power to ensure supply continuity.
However, it admitted that voltage fluctuations and localized disruptions are occurring due to system stress.
KSEB has issued an advisory urging consumers to reduce electricity usage between 6 pm and 11 pm—the critical peak period.
It recommended adjusting air conditioner temperatures to 24–26°C, postponing the use of energy-intensive appliances such as pump sets, induction stoves, and EV chargers, and turning off non-essential lighting.
Adding to the challenge, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission recently extended the deadline for KSEB to procure 250 MW of additional power, asking the utility to submit a revised application with more detailed information.
While KSEB has been granted permission to purchase electricity without prior approval in emergency situations, the delay in formal approvals has created uncertainty in long-term planning.
Despite sporadic light rains, electricity demand has shown no signs of easing. With consumption remaining persistently high and infrastructure under pressure, Kerala’s power sector is facing one of its most challenging periods in recent years.
For now, much depends on how effectively demand can be managed—and whether the political heat surrounding the crisis escalates further as temperatures continue to rise.
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
