Thiruvananthapuram, 18 July (H.S.):The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has stepped up efforts to address the state's worsening power shortage by seeking regulatory approval to procure electricity through fresh long-term agreements with two power suppliers.

The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) is expected to consider KSEB's application on Friday for the purchase of power from National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Power Pulse Trading Solutions. The utility has sought approval to procure 100 MW each from the two companies at a tariff of ₹5.96 per unit. The proposed agreements are expected to remain in force from this month until July 14 next year, providing KSEB with a more stable source of electricity during periods of high demand.

The move comes as Kerala continues to face a severe power deficit driven by a sharp rise in electricity consumption and limited availability of power in the short-term market. Officials hope the additional allocation under the new contracts will reduce the state's dependence on the volatile power exchange, where supply has remained constrained in recent weeks.

Power demand in Kerala has surged by an estimated 500 to 1,000 MW due to prolonged hot weather, pushing the grid under considerable stress. At the same time, inadequate availability of electricity through the power exchange has made it difficult for KSEB to purchase sufficient power to meet peak demand.

The situation has been compounded by lower domestic power generation, forcing the utility to impose night-time load management across the state over the past five days. Consumers in several areas have experienced scheduled power restrictions as KSEB struggled to balance demand and supply.

The utility believes that securing dedicated power through long-term procurement will significantly improve electricity availability and help ease the ongoing power crisis. Given the seriousness of the situation, indications are that the State Electricity Regulatory Commission is likely to grant approval to the proposal at the earliest, enabling KSEB to implement the procurement without delay.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman