THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, September 21, 2026: Kerala is facing continued pressure on its electricity supply as rising consumption, limited domestic generation and tight power availability in the national market widen the gap between demand and supply. The state’s daily power deficit has recently remained around 900 MW or more, while peak demand crossed 5,000 MW in September.
The situation has been particularly challenging during evening and night-time peak hours. KSEB statistics showed that electricity consumption reached 99.927 million units on September 17, the highest daily consumption recorded in the state so far this month. Maximum demand touched 5,305 MW during the evening peak.
Kerala continues to depend heavily on power imports. On September 17, nearly three-fourths of the state’s electricity consumption was met through net imports, while internal generation accounted for about one-fourth. Hydropower remained the main source of domestic generation.
The availability of battery storage has emerged as a key issue in discussions over the crisis. Five Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects are under construction in Kerala and are expected to provide storage capacity that can help shift surplus daytime solar power to peak-demand periods. However, reports indicate that progress on these projects remains a concern.
KSEB expects projects at Mylatty, Mulleria, Sreekandapuram, Areekode and Pothencode to become operational within the coming months. Experts, however, have also argued that battery storage should be complemented by longer-term solutions such as pumped-storage hydropower projects.
The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved a portion of KSEB’s proposed short-term power procurement for the period from October 2026 to May 2027. KSEB had sought substantially more power, warning that limited procurement flexibility could make it harder to manage unexpected demand increases and supply shortages.
The state government has also highlighted floating solar, pumped storage and community-level battery storage as potential measures for addressing Kerala’s longer-term energy requirements. Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph said energy storage needs to become part of the state’s broader energy policy.
With demand expected to rise again during the summer months, the availability of additional power, faster completion of storage projects and expansion of generation capacity are likely to remain central to Kerala’s efforts to maintain a reliable electricity supply.
