Half an hour load shedding in state between 6 pm and 12

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Load shedding has been implemented in the state. Half an hour load shedding will be implemented between 6 pm and 12 midnight, when electricity is used the most. A decision was taken at a high-level meeting convened by Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). A directive issued says vehicle charging and induction cookers should not be used during this time. It has been suggested that AC should be used only when necessary and that it should be set at 24-26 degrees. KSEB was forced to implement load shedding after the uncontrolled increase in electricity consumption in the state. The present daily consumption is 115 million units.

The high-level meeting assessed that the present crisis is due to the unexpected increase in electricity demand. This year, the increase has been much higher than the average increase that occurs annually according to the growth rate of electricity demand in the state. The meeting also assessed that the charging of vehicles after 6 pm, the use of AC, and the excessive use of induction cookers by people due to the shortage of cooking gas in the wake of the Iran war have increased the use of electricity.

Electricity is presently being cut for 10 to 30 minutes between 6 pm and 2 am under the name of peak load management measures or load restrictions. This was done without prior notice.