The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has approached the State Electricity Regulatory Commission seeking approval for short-term power procurement to manage expected electricity deficits during peak demand hours in the coming months, particularly in the evening.
In its petition, KSEB has proposed purchasing power between June 15 and December 31, excluding September, from companies including Manikaran Power Ltd, Jindal Power Ltd, Shree Cement Ltd, and PTC India Ltd, in line with Union Power Ministry guidelines. The proposed procurement rates are above ₹9 per unit.
The commission is scheduled to hear the petition on June 24.
KSEB has also warned of limited-scale power restrictions until June 30, citing rising demand driven by El Niño-related dry weather conditions affecting electricity consumption across the country. The utility has estimated a shortfall of around 900 MW during this period.
Looking ahead, KSEB projects continued deficits even under normal monsoon conditions, estimating a peak-hour shortage of around 600 MW in July. This could rise to 750 MW in August, and further widen to between 800 MW and 1000 MW from October to December, potentially impacting the state’s power stability.
For September, the utility plans to float fresh tenders, as the lowest available offer so far stands at ₹12.98 per unit, which it considers too high.
KSEB has attributed the situation to several factors, including very low reservoir levels in hydroelectric projects and an expected below-normal southwest monsoon. It also noted limited availability of power in the market due to high demand in northern states amid extreme heat conditions.
Additionally, the board will need to return electricity previously sourced through swap and banking arrangements with other states, which were used to meet summer demand between June and September, further tightening supply conditions.
