Daijiworld Media Network - Kochi

Kochi, Oct 30: Kerala is facing the prospect of another round of power load-shedding from November 1, with a projected peak-hour shortage of up to 900 MW following a delay in government approval for extending a short-term power-purchase arrangement with the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board.

This could be the third round of power restrictions since the United Democratic Front (UDF) government assumed office. The state had earlier experienced power outages in July and September.

According to senior Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) officials, the shortage could force the utility to impose multiple power restrictions between 6 pm and midnight to manage the widening gap between electricity demand and availability.

Despite intermittent rainfall, Kerala's peak-hour power consumption has remained around 4,900 MW over the past two weeks. Demand could cross 5,500 MW if dry weather conditions persist, while the maximum power availability with the state is expected to be around 4,200 MW from November 1.

Although KSEB had submitted a proposal to procure 2,225 MW of additional power, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission cleared only 1,000 MW, at rates ranging from Rs 6.90 to Rs 10 per unit.

The immediate concern is the proposed extension of power purchases from Himachal Pradesh. The northern state's electricity board had offered between 900 MW and 1,200 MW during peak hours at Rs 14.50 per unit. Kerala began receiving this supply from October 1, helping KSEB withdraw the previous round of power restrictions.

However, the proposal seeking government approval to continue purchasing electricity from Himachal Pradesh from November 1 to May 15 has reportedly remained pending for 22 days.

KSEB had reportedly made repeated requests to the government to clear the proposal while seeking additional time from Himachal Pradesh authorities. Meanwhile, Rajasthan is said to have approached the Himachal Pradesh board with an offer of Rs 15.50 per unit.

A senior KSEB official said the board had received information that Rajasthan had secured the arrangement and that Himachal Pradesh could discontinue its supply to Kerala from November 1.

The official also claimed that Himachal Pradesh might have agreed to reduce the rate to Rs 12.50 per unit if Kerala had negotiated earlier. The official warned that the withdrawal of the supply could leave the state facing a serious power shortage, particularly amid high demand for electricity from the central grid and concerns over the impact of El Nino.

The possible loss of Himachal Pradesh's supply has therefore raised concerns over the state's ability to meet evening peak-hour demand without imposing further restrictions. The final situation will depend on the government's decision, additional power procurement and the availability of electricity from other sources.

With demand remaining high and the proposed purchase arrangement yet to be cleared, KSEB faces a challenging task in ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to consumers from November.