Keralam power board seeks nod to buy costlier electricity amid night cuts
The Kerala State Electricity Board will seek the state government’s permission to purchase additional power at higher prices as rising demand leaves Kerala facing a supply shortage, Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph said on Sunday.
The state has witnessed power cuts, particularly at night, as consumption has risen sharply and the KSEB has struggled to secure additional electricity from other states.
Joseph said the government was exploring all available options to increase supply, including buying power from central institutions and other states at higher rates.
“We are exploring all options to procure as much power as possible from central government institutions and other states. Even if it means buying at a higher price, permission should be granted by the state,” he told reporters.
The minister said he would write to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking approval for the purchases. A similar request would be submitted to the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
KSEB board members will also visit other states and hold discussions with electricity officials to determine whether additional power can be arranged for Kerala. Joseph said the Chief Minister had approved the proposed visits and that he had discussed the matter with the KSEB chairman.
On whether solar energy could help address the shortage, Joseph said Kerala produced solar power but lacked an effective mechanism to store it for use at night.
“We have solar production, but systems such as battery energy storage have not yet become effective for nighttime use. We must consider ways to encourage their adoption and provide incentives,” he said.
Joseph said the state was also prepared to purchase electricity generated by consumers for nighttime supply at higher rates. He called for a new policy focused on increasing power generation in Kerala.
“This period has brought difficulties that compel everyone to think. We need a new policy aimed at increasing production,” he said.
The minister also appealed to consumers to avoid unnecessary power use. Responding to former minister VM Sudheeran’s complaint that street lights were being left switched on during the day, Joseph said they were largely managed by local bodies and not directly by the KSEB.
He also urged people to reduce decorative lighting at night.
“When a resource is scarce, understanding our limits and using it carefully can make a difference,” he said.
Joseph rejected criticism of the KSEB and the state government over the shortage. He claimed that the crisis could have been avoided had a long-term power purchase agreement signed during the Oommen Chandy government remained in force.
According to the minister, the Electricity Regulatory Commission cancelled the agreement, while the previous LDF government challenged the decision only six months later. By then, he said, the supplier had withdrawn from the arrangement.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 13, 2026 19:59 IST
