Kerala power cuts to continue for now, relief likely in coming days: Minister

Kerala Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph said power cuts in the state would continue for now amid a supply crunch and rising demand. He said relief could come soon as power purchase arrangements change, while efforts are underway to restore normal supply.

Kerala Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph on Wednesday indicated that power cuts in the state will continue for now, though he said the situation could improve in the coming days. He said he could not give a clear date for when normal supply would resume.

Speaking to reporters, Joseph said there would be some relief as 250 MW under a ‘swap arrangement’ was ending on Wednesday. He added, “By the end of September, the remaining 250MW of the swap arrangement will also come to an end.”

The minister said the government was making every effort to restore normalcy and buy power, with Chief Minister VD Satheesan speaking to various states for electricity supply.

He said a shortage of coal, lower power generation and higher consumption had pushed up demand for electricity across India, and that many states, including Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, were facing a crisis.

Joseph said many states or companies were willing to provide more power during the day, when Kerala did not need it, and less during the night, while charging the same rate for both. “That will not receive the approval of the regulatory commission,” he said.

He also said the government had planned to commission some battery energy storage projects in October, but the companies handling the work had not yet received the required machinery from China and had sought more time.

“We have not yet granted them the extension and have directed them to bring the machinery on an urgent basis,” Joseph said.