Power curbs likely on limited scale till June 30, says Kerala State Electricity Board

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Power restrictions are likely on a limited scale between 6 p.m. and midnight till June 30 on account of an acute power shortage felt nationwide, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has said.

The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Power Minister Sunny Joseph and attended by senior officials, including Power Secretary and KSEB chairman and Managing Director M.G. Rajamanickam, to review the situation.

Due to a combination of factors, Kerala will face a shortfall of 900 megawatt (MW) till June 30, the KSEB said. On June 16 (Tuesday), load restrictions was imposed on a limited scale in parts of the State, it said.

The El Nino-linked dry temperature conditions have increased power demand across India. In Kerala’s case, the monsoon months are also the time when the State is expected to return electricity sourced under ‘swap’ and banking arrangements from other States to meet the summer demand.

The southwest monsoon, which is yet to gain in strength, has not brought cooler weather. Although the KSEB had projected peak demand to dip to 4,100 MW, it hovers around 4,900 MW. There is also a 10 million unit (mu) increase in daily electricity consumption, the KSEB said.