Kochi, 03 Oct (H.S.):Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has secured 600 megawatts of electricity from Himachal Pradesh to ease the State’s evening power shortage, raising hopes of relief from restrictions that triggered widespread protests in September.

The arrangement with Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board will remain effective until May 31, 2027. Supplies began on Thursday, enabling KSEB to avoid power restrictions over the past two days, officials said.

The agreement followed visits by six senior teams, led by KSEB directors, to explore additional supplies over the past fortnight. Bihar and Andhra Pradesh supplied electricity on certain days but could not sustain deliveries.

Under the new agreement, Kerala will purchase electricity during peak hours at Rs 14.50 per unit. Himachal Pradesh had earlier offered 210 MW around the clock at Rs 10 per unit, which KSEB declined because daytime supplies were adequate and power exchange rates were around Rs 2 per unit.

Although the peak-hour tariff is higher, KSEB considers the arrangement more economical than purchasing expensive electricity throughout the day.

Officials said Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan’s intervention helped Kerala secure the supply despite competing demand from Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

KSEB chairman M.G. Rajamanickam said severe shortages on power exchanges during peak hours had forced the board to accept Himachal’s offer. Satheesan has also spoken to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu seeking a tariff reduction.

The additional supply takes Kerala’s peak-hour availability to 4,795 MW, against demand ranging from 4,500 MW to 5,000 MW. Remaining shortfalls will be met through real-time market purchases.

Battery storage projects are expected to provide further relief. The 15 MW Mulleria project will be commissioned on October 14. Projects at Mylatti, Sreekandapuram, Areekode and Pothencode, with capacities of 125 MW, 40 MW, 30 MW and 40 MW respectively, are expected to be completed by year-end.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman