Kerala Electricity Regulatory Commission Directs KSEB to Give Prior Notice to Public of Power Restrictions

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has directed the KSEB to inform consumers in advance whenever power restrictions are to be imposed in the state.

The Commission said consumers must be informed by the previous evening about which feeder will be affected and the duration of the power restriction. It also directed KSEB to adhere to a fixed schedule while imposing restrictions in any area and avoid making frequent changes to the timing.

KSEB has been asked to use its SMS alert system to notify consumers. In emergency situations, the respective section offices should inform the public about which feeders will be switched off. The Commission also directed KSEB to reduce the duration of power restrictions whenever additional electricity becomes available.

The Commission observed that KSEB delayed completing the tender process for procuring additional electricity even while power restrictions were in force. It questioned why the utility took 14 days to submit its application before the Regulatory Commission. The Commission noted that imposing load shedding despite electricity being available in the power market amounted to a lapse. It also described KSEB's planning as unscientific, pointing out that it relied on outdated estimates from April instead of taking the prevailing conditions in July into account.

The KSEB has been unable to avoid purchasing around one crore units of electricity daily from external sources despite having surplus power during daytime hours. Paying fixed charges for such purchases is causing financial losses to the Board.

To address the power shortage, the Commission approved KSEB's request to procure an additional 200 MW of electricity. It added that the existing power restrictions may have to continue if rainfall does not improve or if sufficient electricity cannot be procured from the market.