Amid widespread public criticism over unscheduled power cuts across the State, Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has said the government expects to ease the power crisis by mid-September through various steps.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he said instructions will be issued to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to streamline power cut announcements.

Demand up

Mr. Satheesan said that due to a weak monsoon, the water level in the State’s hydel power dams was low, leading to reduction in power generation. Due to the shortage of coal for electricity generation in thermal power plants, there is also less power available for purchase from north-Indian States. The demand in the peak hours has gone up by 800-900 MW compared to the same period last year, he said.

He said that the State government is facing a situation in which it will have to purchase power at high costs. The government is taking various measures to bring power without adding any additional burden to the consumers, he said.

Blames LDF for crisis

Mr. Satheesan blamed the crisis on the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for long-term power purchase agreement, which the Oommen Chandy government had signed.

"As per the agreement, we could get 465 MW power at ₹4.29. The LDF government cancelled the agreement and bought power at rates ranging from ₹8-₹14. If that agreement was still in place, we wouldn't have faced this crisis," he said.

Regarding the cancellation of a long-term power purchase agreement in 2023, Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan had said in July this year that the LDF government had initially gone ahead with the agreement signed by the UDF government although it had differences with some of the clauses. However, Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) decided to cancel the agreement.