Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's Electricity Department has decided to avoid power cuts during the early hours to ensure football fans can watch the FIFA World Cup final without interruption. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) said it would purchase electricity from other states at higher prices to prevent disruptions during peak demand.
The move comes after the State Electricity Regulatory Commission approved KSEB's request to procure an additional 200 MW of round-the-clock power, offering temporary relief amid Kerala's worsening electricity shortage.
The state is facing a severe power crisis, with frequent night-time outages triggering widespread public protests. Officials expect electricity demand to rise further as reduced rainfall increases consumption.
Kerala's peak-hour power requirement has increased by more than 1,200 MW compared with the same period last year. Daily electricity consumption has also climbed from 70 million units in July last year to 78 million units this year.
The crisis has been aggravated by a sharp decline in water levels at hydroelectric reservoirs, reducing power generation capacity. KSEB is also under pressure to return 530 MW of electricity borrowed from other states during the summer, adding to the strain on the state's power supply.