Kerala avoids load shedding on Tuesday, KSEB clarifies media reports
Synopsis
KSEB pushed back against media reports of load shedding, clarifying that only conditional, sub-30-minute curbs were ever authorised — and were barely triggered. With 400 MW of additional power secured and 116.5 million units consumed on a single day, Kerala's summer power crunch is real, but the utility insists it is managing the grid without broad outages.
Key Takeaways
KSEB confirmed no load shedding in Kerala on Tuesday, 29 April 2025 , contradicting media reports.
The utility secured 200 MW of additional power from the Regulatory Commission and restored another 200 MW from central generating stations.
Total electricity consumption stood at 116.5 million units for the day, remaining elevated despite summer showers.
Brief, localised restrictions occurred after 11.30 pm in parts of the Malabar region due to line overload, and after 10 pm in Kunnamangalam, Kozhikode due to transformer overload.
KSEB clarified that its earlier communication only authorised curbs of less than 30 minutes in grid-stability emergencies — not a general load-shedding schedule.
Kerala did not experience any load shedding on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, with only minimal and highly localised power restrictions imposed despite sustained high demand, according to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). The state utility issued a fresh clarification on Wednesday after sections of the media reportedly misinterpreted an earlier official communication as announcing load shedding.
What KSEB Actually Authorised
The original KSEB communication had only authorised the Chief Engineer in charge of the Load Dispatch Centre to impose power curbs of less than 30 minutes, and strictly in situations where excessive load threatens the stability of the transmission and distribution network. The utility said this conditional authorisation was misread as a blanket load-shedding order.
How KSEB Managed Supply
The board said it secured 200 megawatts of additional power cleared by the Regulatory Commission, alongside the restoration of another 200 megawatts from central generating stations where supply had earlier been disrupted. These measures enabled uninterrupted supply across most parts of the state. Total power usage for the day stood at 116.5 million units, indicating no meaningful dip in consumption despite summer showers in parts of central and southern Kerala.
Where Localised Restrictions Were Reported
Limited curbs were reported late on Tuesday night in select pockets due to technical constraints. Line overload led to brief restrictions after 11.30 pm in areas across the Malabar region, including Kasaragod, Mylatti, Chakkittapara, Nadapuram, Sreekandapuram, Taliparamba, and Thalassery. Additional minor disruptions were recorded in the Areekode–Manjeri belt following overload on the Madakkathara–Elamkur transmission line. Parts of eastern Kunnamangalam in Kozhikode district also experienced short-duration outages after 10 pm due to excessive transformer load. Officials clarified that no other regions in the state required any form of restriction.
Context: Peak Summer Demand Pressure
The clarification comes amid heightened public sensitivity over power availability during Kerala's peak summer period. Even as weather conditions offered partial relief, overall electricity demand remained elevated, underlining persistent consumption pressures across the state. KSEB's intervention — procuring additional megawatts from both regulatory channels and central stations — underscores the tightening supply-demand balance that utilities across southern India are navigating this season.
With summer demand expected to remain high in the coming weeks, KSEB's ability to continue securing supplementary power allocations will be closely watched.
Point of View
But the underlying story is the real one: Kerala consumed 116.5 million units in a single day even as summer showers arrived, and the utility had to scramble for 400 MW of supplementary power to hold the line. The distinction between 'no load shedding' and 'brief localised curbs in seven Malabar towns after 11.30 pm' is technically accurate but thin. As peak summer demand persists, the margin between managed supply and rolling outages is narrowing — and the next heat spell could test KSEB's procurement capacity more severely.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Kerala experience load shedding on 29 April 2025?
No, according to KSEB, Kerala did not experience load shedding on 29 April 2025. Only minimal, localised restrictions were imposed in a few areas of the Malabar region and Kozhikode district late at night due to technical overload conditions.
Why did KSEB issue a clarification about load shedding?
KSEB said sections of the media misinterpreted its earlier communication as announcing load shedding. The original order had only authorised the Chief Engineer at the Load Dispatch Centre to impose curbs of less than 30 minutes in grid-stability emergencies, not a general outage schedule.
How did KSEB manage high electricity demand on Tuesday?
KSEB secured 200 MW of additional power cleared by the Regulatory Commission and restored another 200 MW from central generating stations where supply had been disrupted. These measures enabled uninterrupted supply across most of the state.
Which areas in Kerala had power restrictions on the night of 29 April?
Brief restrictions occurred after 11.30 pm in parts of the Malabar region including Kasaragod, Mylatti, Chakkittapara, Nadapuram, Sreekandapuram, Taliparamba, and Thalassery due to line overload. The Areekode–Manjeri belt and eastern Kunnamangalam in Kozhikode also saw short outages.
What was Kerala's total power consumption on 29 April 2025?
Total power consumption stood at 116.5 million units for the day, remaining elevated despite summer showers in parts of central and southern Kerala, indicating persistent high demand.
