Bill shock and blackouts: Kerala shatters power consumption records as reservoirs hit historic lows

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is facing an unprecedented electricity crisis as scorching summer temperatures drive daily consumption and peak demand to record-breaking levels. On Saturday, daily consumption surged to 116.11 million units (MU), eclipsing the previous record of 115.94 MU set on May 3, 2024. Peak time demand also touched an all-time high of 6,013 MW, pushing the state’s power grid to its absolute limit.

The sharp spike in usage is attributed to the continuous operation of air conditioners and fans, alongside an increased reliance on induction cookers due to a shortage of cooking gas. Currently, the state is consuming eight million units more per day than it did at this time last year.

The situation is becoming physically unsustainable for the infrastructure:

• Capacity Limits: While Kerala's maximum distribution capacity is 6,300 MW, the current demand of 6,013 MW has already caused transformer failures in multiple regions.
• Infrastructure Bottlenecks: A high-capacity 400 KV line exists only between Pothencode (Thiruvananthapuram) and Areekode (Malappuram). Most other regions rely on 110 KV lines, which struggle to support the current load.
• Unannounced Outages: To prevent a total grid collapse, unannounced load shedding has already been implemented in Shoranur, Kozhikode, and Kasaragod.

Internal production offers little relief. Water levels in the state’s dams, including Idukki, have plummeted to 37%—the lowest in recent history. Consequently, hydropower contributes only 23 MU to the daily requirement, with solar providing a meagre 3 MU. To bridge the massive gap, KSEB is forced to purchase 86.01 million units daily from outside the state.

Impending "Bill Shock" for Consumers

The heavy reliance on external power will soon hit consumers' wallets:

1. Fuel Surcharges: KSEB is authorised to implement an additional fuel surcharge starting next month to recover the costs of expensive external power purchases.
2. ToD Tariff Penalties: For those on the 'Time of Day' (ToD) tariff—typically monthly billers consuming over 250 units—the cost of usage between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM will include a 25% premium.

"Our primary effort is to avoid widespread load shedding. We urge the public to cooperate by switching off unnecessary lights and high-voltage equipment until 11:00 PM," stated K. Krishnankutty, Minister of Power.