Kerala's KSEB struggles to meet 800 MW surge during heatwave

As temperatures soar, the Kerala State Electricity Board faces an unprecedented 800‑megawatt jump in electricity demand. The board's inability to secure short‑term contracts and the inflated rates in the real‑time market have hampered efforts to buy additional power. While KSEB issued a tender for September purchases, the lack of response from power producers means the board must rely on existing reserves, which are already stretched thin. Consequently, several districts experienced scheduled one‑hour outages on Monday, and authorities warn that further load‑shedding could be necessary if the heat persists.