THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) grapples with a surge in summer electricity consumption, leading to a staggering increase in purchased power costs. The additional burden, ranging from Rs 4 to 6 crores daily, necessitates passing on the expense to consumers through a cess. Unless consumption is curbed, customers face higher charges.

Currently, a cess of 19 paise per unit is levied to offset the Rs 87 crore monthly expenditure on imported electricity. With the situation worsening, KSEB eyes seeking approval from the Electricity Regulatory Commission to hike the cess to 45 paise.

In February, electricity demand surged to 9.2 to 9.5 crore units compared to the usual 8.5 crore units. While Kerala generates 2.2 crore units through hydropower, 2.8 crore units are sourced from the Central Grid, and 3 crore units from interstate agreements. The deficit of 1.2 crore units necessitates costly purchases from the national market, priced between Rs 15 to Rs 22 per unit.

With temperatures rising, daily electricity demand is poised to escalate to 90 lakh to 1.4 crore units, intensifying reliance on high-priced national market power. Despite Kerala selling electricity at an average of Rs 6.10 per unit, procurement costs strain finances.

Efforts to secure 75 lakh units per day from private firms, rescinded by the Electricity Regulatory Commission, face hurdles as companies show reluctance, prompting KSEB's appeal to the Appellate Tribunal for resolution by March 5.

Dwindling water levels in dams currently at 55%, exacerbate the crisis, limiting hydroelectric potential to 240 crore units for the next three months. This prompts heightened conservation measures.

The proliferation of air conditioners, estimated at over 40 lakhs in the state with 3.5 lakh new units annually, exacerbates evening electricity consumption from 6:30 PM to 12 PM. KSEB seeks to mitigate nighttime demand spikes.