Drawing flak over power curbs, Kerala State Electricity Board seeks nod for procuring 200 MW for one-year period
As part of the attempts to overcome the present power crisis in the State, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has sought approval for procuring
As part of the attempts to overcome the present power crisis in the State, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has sought approval for procuring a total 200 megawatts (MW) from two suppliers for a one-year period till July 2027. The power utility has approached the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission requesting its approval for procuring 100 MW each from the NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVNL) and Power Pulse Trading Solutions Ltd at ₹5.96 per unit “for meeting the power deficit.” The short-term power purchase is for the period from July 15, 2026 to July 14, 2027.
The regulatory commission will hold a hearing on the KSEB petition on Saturday (July 18, 2026). The KSEB plea has come at a time when the United Democratic Front (UDF) government, the Power department and the KSEB were facing flak over multiple, unscheduled power curbs in the late evening hours. The KSEB’s decision is based on the assessment that that there could be a “persistent base round-the-clock (RTC) power deficit of around 200 MW throughout the year, coupled with the weak monsoon and low reservoir levels, which are expected to adversely impact power availability.” High rates The KSEB had originally planned to procure the 200 MW for the period from June 15, 2026, to August 31, 2026.
But the rates quoted by suppliers were “substantially high.” Therefore, the KSEB panel overseeing purchases had recommended that the purchase be for a longer duration on the assumption that it would attract more competitive prices. Fresh tenders were floated on June 15, and NVVNL and Power Pulse Trading Solutions both quoted ₹5.98 per unit for the supply of 100 MW each. The prices were lowered to ₹5.96 per unit through negotiation. Earlier this week, Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph had said that Kerala is currently facing a power deficit of 500 MW to 600 MW.
The Minister attributed the present crisis to a combination of factors, including a spike in demand during July, low storage in the hydel reservoirs due to the weak southwest monsoon and a nationwide spurt in electricity demand triggered by the El Nino-linked warm temperatures.
The BriefWire