Thiruvananthapuram | 9 September 2026 — Kerala power demand surged during an unusually hot and dry September, forcing partial electricity restrictions across the state during the evening peak as power availability from the exchange tightened and grid frequency fell.
The restrictions were imposed between 6.30 pm on Tuesday and 12.30 am on Wednesday, according to officials. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had warned that a combination of rising consumption and limited availability through the power exchange could make restrictions necessary.
The prolonged dry spell and warmer-than-usual conditions increased reliance on fans, air-conditioners and other cooling appliances in homes and commercial establishments. Peak-time demand in Kerala had risen by around 800 to 900 MW compared with the demand normally recorded during September in previous years, officials said.
The pressure on Kerala’s power system was compounded by wider constraints in the national electricity market. Electricity demand had increased across the country, reducing the availability of power through the 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 the pressure to an unexpected reduction in electricity availability from central generating stations. With the required quantity of power unavailable through the exchange and grid frequency declining, partial restrictions were introduced to manage the system during the high-demand period.
The weather conditions driving demand were reflected in India Meteorological Department readings released on Tuesday evening. Punalur recorded Kerala’s highest maximum temperature at 35.2 degrees Celsius, or 3.3 degrees above normal. Kottayam recorded 34.6 degrees Celsius, with a departure of 3.8 degrees above normal—the highest departure among the monitored stations.
CIAL Kochi 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 several other stations, including southern Thiruvananthapuram and northern Kannur.
The immediate pressure eased after the restrictions ended, but officials said demand could rise further by a similar margin if the rains continued to stay away. The state was therefore heading into another day of high electricity demand with above-normal temperatures, weak rainfall and tight power availability remaining key concerns.
