Kerala’s Power Woes Expected to Ease Within a Week, Says Chief Minister

After a tense cabinet meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister V D Satheesan told reporters that the lingering power crunch in Kerala is likely to soften in just a few days. He said the administration is already in talks with a handful of neighbouring states and several power producers to bring in extra megawatts before the end of the week.

"We are drawing up a supply plan that will cover the period from 1 October right through to the next monsoon season," Satheesan explained, adding that a revised power‑policy framework will be tabled soon. "The idea is to lock in reliable, affordable electricity for the months ahead."

He pointed to a string of factors that have converged to create the present dilemma – a steady rise in overall consumption, a sharp spike in night‑time demand, the absence of adequate storage for solar output, a weak monsoon and soaring temperatures that push households and businesses to crank up air‑conditioners.

While the state is eyeing long‑term power purchase agreements, Satheesan was clear that Kerala will not sign up for rates that dwarf the current ceiling. "National Thermal Power Corporation has asked for ₹30 per unit, but our ceiling is ₹10. We simply cannot afford that," he said.

On the renewable front, the chief minister said private players will be encouraged to invest more in Kerala’s green‑energy projects. Yet he ruled out any notion of privatising the Kerala State Electricity Board, insisting that KSEB will remain a public utility.

In the meantime, the government hopes the additional 300‑plus megawatts it is securing will trim daily load‑shedding to once a day, a relief many Keralites have been yearning for after weeks of rolling blackouts.

Satheesan concluded with a note of optimism, urging citizens to conserve energy while the state works to shore up supply. "Within a week, we expect the situation to improve markedly," he promised.