Kerala power crisis: State may face deficit in coming months too
Kerala, which is grappling with an unexpected power crisis in July, is likely to face challenges meeting both peak power demand and energy requirement in
Kerala, which is grappling with an unexpected power crisis in July, is likely to face challenges meeting both peak power demand and energy requirement in the coming months as well, indicates the Load Generation Balance Report (LGBR) for 2026-27 published by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The southern State can expect gaps in peak demand and availability from August through October this year and January through March 2027 in the run-up to the summer, according to the LGBR projections. The report also suggests shortfalls in the monthly energy requirement and availability from September 2026 to March 2027. As per the report, Kerala’s annual energy requirement is projected at 33,641 million units (mu) in the current fiscal with a 747 mu deficit in availability.
Peak demand in 2026-27 is projected to touch 5,821 megawatts (MW) with a 177 MW deficit in availability. Kerala is among the States and Union Territories (UT) that are expected to face demand-supply gaps of varying degrees in both peak demand and energy availability, according to the report published in June. The LGBR outlines the anticipated power supply position in the country and the States and UTs for a given year. To arrive at the projections on Kerala’s month-wise power requirement in terms of both energy and peak demand, a realistic estimate of electricity availability both in terms of MU and MW capacity from various sources are taken into account.
Availability is calculated on the basis of the capacity available to the State from electricity generating units across the country and the anticipated water storage in the reservoirs of hydroelectric power projects. Power curbs in place Kerala, whose internal generation accounts only for 30% of the demand, currently has power curbs in place in the evening hours to battle the gap in peak power demand and availability. The State government has blamed the situation on a combination of factors, including an increase in electricity demand, low water storage in the reservoirs for hydro generation on account of poor rainfall and the increased nationwide demand for electricity due to El Nino-linked warm temperatures.
The combined storage in Kerala’s hydel reservoirs stood at 29% of the capacity (equivalent to 1,216.13 mu) on July 23, which is the lowest for the day in recent years. Of the daily consumption of 89.72 mu recorded on July 23, electricity imports accounted for 89.7 mu, and internal generation, 9.96 mu. State government-company Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had received approval from the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) to purchase 200 MW round-the-clock as part of meeting the deficit till July 2027.
The BriefWire