Heat, weak monsoon, coal crunch behind Kerala power cuts: Minister

Kerala's Electricity Minister, Sunny Joseph, said on Tuesday that the state's current power cuts stem from a combination of soaring temperatures, a corresponding spike in electricity consumption, and a dip in the availability of power.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Joseph noted that the heat is not confined to Kerala, with high temperatures being recorded across India, which has pushed up overall demand. He added that the state's own hydel generation has suffered because a weak monsoon has left reservoir levels in its dams low.

Adding to the strain, the minister said that less power is now available for purchase from northern states, as thermal plants there are grappling with a coal shortage. He also pointed out that Kerala must return 500 MW of electricity per day that it had borrowed during March and April this year, further tightening the supply situation.

Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department data released on Monday evening shows the intensity of the current warm spell. Punalur in Kollam district recorded a maximum of 36.2 degrees Celsius, which is 4.3 degrees above normal for the station. This reading comes in the first week of September, a time when the southwest monsoon would typically still be active over the state.

Kottayam logged 35.2 degrees Celsius, a departure of 4.4 degrees above normal, the highest deviation among the stations listed. Palakkad registered 34.2 degrees Celsius (3.9 degrees above normal), while CIAL Kochi saw 34.1 degrees Celsius (3.4 degrees above normal).

Thiruvananthapuram city recorded 33.8 degrees Celsius, which is 2.8 degrees above normal, and Vellanikkara also touched 33.8 degrees Celsius, 3.7 degrees above normal.