Kerala on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, reintroduced load shedding after nearly a decade, authorising power cuts of up to 30 minutes between 6 p.m. and midnight to protect grid stability amid record-breaking electricity demand. The decision, taken at a high-level review meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, marks a significant reversal for the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, which had repeatedly cited Kerala's load-shedding-free status as a flagship achievement.

Record Demand and the Scale of the Crisis

Data presented at the review meeting underscores the severity of the situation. Peak electricity consumption touched an all-time high of 118.26 million units on 27 April, while demand after 6 p.m. surged to a record 6,033 MW. A brief spike to 6,195 MW was recorded on 23 April at 10:30 p.m., the highest instantaneous demand the state has seen. Officials noted that temperatures, initially forecast at 38 degrees Celsius, climbed to 41 degrees Celsius, sharply accelerating consumption across the state.

What Triggered the Surge

Authorities attributed the demand explosion to a confluence of factors. Increased air-conditioner usage driven by the heat wave, electric vehicle charging after 6 p.m., and a growing shift to induction cooking — prompted by cooking gas shortages linked to the West Asian conflict — all contributed to the spike. Demand was found to be most acute between 9:30 p.m. and midnight. Notably, electricity availability in the national market has also declined amid a widespread heat wave, compounding Kerala's vulnerability: the state depends on external sources for over 70 per cent of its power needs. A 200 MW shortfall from central generating stations is, however, reportedly expected to be resolved shortly.

What the Government Has Authorised

Additional Chief Secretary (Power) Puneet Kumar chaired the high-level review meeting, which was attended by Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) Chairman and Managing Director Minhaj Alam and other senior officials. Kumar authorised cuts of up to 30 minutes in the 6 p.m. to midnight window under extreme conditions. The KSEB has urged consumers to avoid EV charging during peak hours, maintain air-conditioner temperatures between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius, and limit use of high-power appliances. The Energy Management Centre is expected to issue detailed public advisories, and daily monitoring has been put in place.

The Political Fallout

The development carries significant political weight. The Pinarayi Vijayan government had repeatedly asserted that Kerala remained free of load shedding for nearly a decade under Left rule, often contrasting this with the previous Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) regime. That narrative has now been punctured days before vote counting for the April 9 Assembly elections on 4 May. Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan has already alleged that faulty and opaque power purchase agreements entered into by the government weakened long-term energy security and pushed the state towards avoidable shortages — a charge the government has not publicly addressed in detail.

What Happens Next

With daily monitoring now in place, the government faces both an operational challenge — managing a structural demand-supply gap in the short term — and a political one, given the proximity to vote counting. How quickly the 200 MW central station shortfall is resolved, and whether temperatures ease in the coming days, will determine whether the load-shedding window remains limited or expands further.