KSEB secures Himachal power supply as Kerala demand rises

The Kerala State Electricity Board expects to avoid electricity restrictions in October after securing emergency supplies from Himachal Pradesh to meet peak demand. KSEB officials said supplies of between 600 and 800 megawatts had been arranged through Himachal Pradesh’s Directorate of Energy for the month. The utility is also in discussions with the northern State about supplies for November and December.

The arrangement follows the return of power curbs in Kerala during the final week of September. On Wednesday, the State faced a shortfall of 900 MW, prompting KSEB to impose restrictions as peak demand reached 5,459 MW, the highest recorded in September. Electricity use remained elevated throughout the month.

KSEB’s load dispatch centre data showed average consumption of 94.03 million units over the 30-day period, while imports met a larger share of demand and averaged 71.33 million units. The utility’s reliance on additional supplies comes as water storage in Kerala’s hydel reservoirs remains under pressure. KSEB officials attributed the limited improvement to a weak southwest monsoon during the June-to-September period.

Reservoir storage stood at 61%, equivalent to 2,537.47 million units, on September 30. On the same date in 2025, the comparable storage figure was 3,267.63 million units. The Himachal arrangement is intended to help cover October’s peak requirements and reduce the immediate need for curbs.

The supplied material does not specify the price or contractual terms of the emergency electricity, nor does it say whether the talks for later months have concluded. KSEB’s position reflects the pressure created by strong consumption, reduced hydel storage and continued dependence on electricity imports. The utility is seeking additional supplies while monitoring demand and reservoir levels.