Subheadline: Partial power restrictions were imposed overnight after electricity demand rose by 800–900 MW above usual September levels and power availability tightened.
Thiruvananthapuram | September 9, 2026 — Keralam imposed partial power restrictions between 6.30 pm on Tuesday and 12.30 am on Wednesday after above-normal heat, weak rainfall and limited electricity availability pushed the state’s power grid under pressure during the evening peak.
The restrictions followed a surge in electricity use across homes and commercial establishments, where fans, air-conditioners and other cooling appliances were used more heavily as the prolonged dry spell continued. Officials said the state was unable to obtain the required quantity of electricity through the power exchange, while a fall in grid frequency added to the pressure on the system.
The Kerala State Electricity Board had warned that restrictions could become necessary if demand continued to rise while power availability through the exchange remained limited. The immediate pressure eased after the restrictions, but officials said the combination of high temperatures, weak rainfall and tight supply remained a concern as the state moved into another day of elevated demand.
Peak-time electricity demand in Keralam had increased by around 800 to 900 megawatts compared with the levels normally recorded during September in previous years. Officials expected demand to rise by a similar margin if the absence of rain continued.
The supply constraint was not limited to Keralam. Electricity demand had risen across the country, reducing the availability of power through the power exchange. A notification from the Grid Controller of India said the country was facing a power availability shortage of around 12,000 MW. Officials also attributed part of the pressure on the state system to an unexpected reduction in electricity available from central generating stations.
The demand increase coincided with temperatures remaining above normal at several locations in the state. Punalur recorded the highest maximum temperature at 35.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, or 3.3 degrees above normal. Kottayam recorded 34.6 degrees Celsius, with a departure of 3.8 degrees above normal—the highest recorded among the monitored stations.
Cochin International Airport recorded 34 degrees Celsius, while Thiruvananthapuram city recorded 33.6 degrees. Kozhikode recorded 33.5 degrees, and Vellanikkara and Palakkad recorded 33.4 degrees each. Temperatures were also above normal at stations in southern Thiruvananthapuram and northern Kannur, according to readings released by the India Meteorological Department.
The warmer conditions arrived as monsoon rainfall weakened or stayed away, increasing reliance on cooling appliances during peak hours. KSEB’s warnings and the subsequent restrictions reflected the combined impact of higher consumption, reduced power exchange availability and lower supply from central generating stations. Authorities were monitoring demand and availability as the state headed into another period of high electricity use.
