Kerala Energy Minister K. Krishnankutty, reports of ‘load shedding’ in the state due to rising electricity consumption even as protests broke out in various parts against widespread unrest amid a sharp rise in daytime temperatures.
Krishnankutty, who convened a meeting of senior officials of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) on Wednesday, said the disturbances were caused by “dripping of energy” due to over-usage in certain areas.
The minister told reporters: “At the present time, there is no load shedding in the state.”
The minister’s clarification comes a day after the KSEB announced that it may impose short-term power cuts to maintain grid stability.
At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility of load shedding in the future.
His statements come at a time when the state is facing a serious electricity crisis due to record levels of electricity consumption. The rise in consumption is due to heavy use of air conditioners, especially in the evening and late night hours, charging of electric vehicles and use of induction stoves amid the LPG crisis. Kerala imports over 70% of its energy from other states and suppliers.
The minister said that the state obtained 250 megawatts of electricity, and if it obtained more energy from other states, the crisis would subside.
He said that the rains that fell in the past 48 hours in several parts of the state had eased the situation.
Meanwhile, protests broke out in front of KSEB offices in districts like Thrissur and Kozhikode, with the public and political party activists besieging the offices due to frequent disturbances.
In Thrissur, a large group of people affected by the power outage marched to the KSEB office in Irumapetty at midnight on Tuesday due to the prolonged disturbance. KSEB officials explained that a fault in a main feeder line was the cause.
