Thiruvananthapuram, September 10, 2026: Kerala’s electricity crisis continues to worsen, with partial power restrictions remaining in force from 6:30 PM to 1 AM as the state struggles to meet rising demand. Thursday marks the 10th consecutive day of power restrictions across the state.
The crisis has been driven by a sharp increase in electricity consumption amid unusually high temperatures and limited power availability. Kerala’s daily power consumption has risen to around 5,200 MW in September, compared with 3,794 MW during the same period last year, according to Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph.
Kerala currently generates only about 25% of the electricity it consumes, leaving the state heavily dependent on power purchased from outside. The state is facing an average daily shortage of around 900 MW, while efforts to secure additional electricity through various market mechanisms and short-term agreements have faced difficulties.
Amid complaints over unexpected outages, the government is introducing a power-cut alert system to inform consumers in advance about restrictions at the feeder level. Minister Sunny Joseph said the system is expected to become operational from Thursday, although authorities have acknowledged that the alerts may not always be completely accurate.
The restrictions have been particularly challenging during evening peak hours, when demand rises sharply. KSEB has also warned that some areas could experience more than one power interruption during the restriction period.
Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan has said the government is working to resolve the electricity shortage, while the Electricity Department and KSEB continue to explore measures to improve supply. The minister has indicated that the shortage could persist for several more weeks.
With rain forecast in several parts of Kerala, authorities are hopeful that cooler weather could help reduce electricity demand. However, officials say the immediate focus remains on managing the supply gap and ensuring that consumers receive advance information about unavoidable power restrictions.
