THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With football fever sweeping the state, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is determined to prevent power outages from spoiling the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, even if it means buying power at a higher cost. KSEB Chairman and Managing Director M. G. Rajamanikyam said the board has arranged for a 24-hour power supply on July 19 and 20 to ensure uninterrupted service. Since no company was willing to supply electricity only during the night, the board had to purchase round-the-clock power.
The KSEB’s decision comes as Kerala faces prolonged power restrictions for the fourth day in a row. With electricity demand soaring across the state and a shortage of supply in the market, the KSEB has been struggling to procure additional power.
Due to these restrictions, many areas have been experiencing one-hour power cuts at night. KSEB is working to secure new power purchase agreements to ensure adequate supply in the coming months, especially during the Onam season.
KSEB has urged consumers to help cut demand, saying power cuts before 10 pm could be avoided if households only switched on air conditioners at bedtime. It also suggested setting air conditioners above 25°C and avoiding the unnecessary use of fans and lights. The Board added that reducing the state’s power demand by about 800 MW would be enough to prevent power cuts.
Opposition slams government
Meanwhile, opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the government for the recurring power outages in the state. “It’s a failure on their part to make adequate preparations in advance. In such situations, consumers are usually informed beforehand about possible disruptions. But now the situation is completely different. On Thursday night, I personally had to go without electricity for over an hour. It’s not just me—many others are facing similar problems,” he said.
The former chief minister added that the biggest weakness of the government is its inability to take proactive measures. He noted that there is reportedly a daily shortage of 300 to 600 MW under normal circumstances.
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