Weak southwest monsoon leaves Kerala’s hydel reservoirs low in supply

Combined storage in KSEB-managed hydroelectric reservoirs stood at 21% of capacity on June 26, a small jump from June 4’s level of just 17%, equivalent to 721.11 mu. | Photo credit: H.VIBHU

As June draws to a close, the southwest monsoon has not brought any joy to Kerala’s power sector, which continues to struggle with lack of peak demand.

Combined storage in hydroelectric reservoirs managed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) was 21% of capacity on June 26, equivalent to a generation of 871.26 million units (mu). Storage per day is the second lowest in recent years.

On June 4, the day the annual southwest monsoon officially arrived in Kerala, the combined storage of the reservoir was just 17%, equivalent to 721.11 mu. Data from cargo control shows that the situation has not improved much.

Given the situation, KSEB was forced to curtail hydel generation, especially from the 780 MW Idukki project, to a minimum. Daily generation from all hydel reservoirs combined averaged just 11.7 mu this month. With a daily consumption of 88 on average in June, the import of electricity from the state remained decisive. Imports averaged 74.3 mu on a daily basis.

According to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) latest updates on seasonal rainfall, Kerala recorded a 36% rainfall deficiency between June 1 and June 27. All districts, except Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta, reported deficient rainfall for the period.

Nod to buy

Recently, KSEB asked the State Electricity Regulatory Commission for approval for short-term power purchases to bridge peak blackouts during the period from June 15 to December 31, excluding September. In this petition, KSEB said that the storage levels in the reservoirs are “very low”.

Also, the availability of energy in the market was limited due to hot weather in the northern states, which increased the demand there. Kerala’s monsoon months, usually when demand is low due to cooler weather, are also the time when KSEB is expected to return electricity acquired under ‘swap’ and bank arrangements from other states. The committee’s decision on the petition is awaited.

Published – 27 Jun 2026 17:20 IST