Unannounced Load Shedding in Kerala; KSEB Issues Alert Amidst Power Crisis

As Kerala continues to endure severe summer heat, the state’s power distribution system is facing a significant crisis. Although official load shedding has not been declared, unannounced power cuts have begun in various parts of the state during the evenings and at night. This unexpected crisis is primarily driven by electricity consumption hitting all-time highs.

Over the past few days, daily power consumption in the state has surged past 110 million units. The steep increase in the use of air conditioners and coolers due to the intensifying heat has put the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) in a difficult position. The transmission network responsible for bringing power from external sources is facing excessive strain, leading to frequent voltage drops and supply disruptions. To address the voltage shortage, many substations are being forced to turn off feeders intermittently, resulting in a situation similar to load shedding.

Currently, a reduction in the central government power quota and the necessity to purchase electricity from external sources at high prices have severely impacted KSEB’s financial stability. While the board is attempting to resolve the crisis by purchasing power at high rates, technical obstacles remain a major challenge. Authorities have indicated that if consumption continues to rise unchecked, they may be forced to implement official power cuts in the coming days.

KSEB has appealed to the public to minimize electricity usage during peak hours, from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Reducing the use of high-consumption appliances such as ACs, water heaters, washing machines, and pump sets during this period could help mitigate the restrictions to some extent. Authorities further stated that unless there is significant pre-monsoon rain, power restrictions are likely to become more stringent in the coming weeks, and they are closely monitoring the current situation.