Karnataka is facing widespread irregular load shedding after electricity demand reached a record 20,000 megawatts amid a shortfall in monsoon rainfall, leaving farmers and households without reliable power across several districts, according to a report by Prajavani.
Power cuts have reportedly become frequent in the mornings and after 6.30 p.m. across the areas served by the state’s electricity supply companies. Farmers in several regions are receiving only three to four hours of electricity for agricultural pump sets, while domestic consumers are also facing unscheduled interruptions.
Consumers and farmers have protested outside the offices of electricity supply companies in Bengaluru South, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Yadgir, Davanagere, Shivamogga, Chitradurga, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, the report said. The protests were directed at the disruption of both agricultural and household electricity supply.
A senior official in the Energy Department acknowledged that the problem was affecting rural areas, particularly at night. The official said the state was attempting to purchase electricity to maintain supply and had procured 100 MW from Assam and another 100 MW from Jindal.
“Demand has increased this year in the southern states, and since there are problems everywhere, it is difficult to obtain electricity even for purchase,” the official said, adding that efforts were under way to reduce inconvenience to consumers. The official described the disruption as a problem that had intensified over the previous two to three days.
The immediate pressure on the system follows the combination of inadequate monsoon rainfall and a sharp rise in demand. The reported demand of 20,000 MW is the first time Karnataka has reached that level, making it difficult for the state to meet requirements through available supply, according to the report.
The disruptions have also affected the state’s electricity distribution companies. Vasanth Shetty, a public relations officer of MESCOM, said the company was following instructions from its Bengaluru office to carry out load shedding during the supply shortage. In some cases, distribution companies were being directed to disconnect supply suddenly, he said.
Shetty said it was not clear how long the load shedding would continue. The absence of a stated end date leaves consumers and farmers facing uncertainty over the timing and duration of further outages, while electricity companies continue efforts to balance available supply with demand.
