Kerala State Electricity Board spends ₹1,190 crore on power purchases during April-August 2026

KSEB seeks permission to procure electricity to meet projected additional demand for the period from September 1, 2026 to May 15, 2027. (Photo for representation) The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) informed the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission on Thursday that it spent ₹1,190 crore on power purchases during the five-month period from April to August, 2026.The power procurement was made under short-term contracts and via power exchange. The commission conducted a hearing on Thursday (September 3, 2026) on the KSEB’s petition seeking permission to procure electricity to meet the projected additional demand for the period from September 1, 2026 to May 15, 2027.High priceThe commission noted that the power purchase cost, ranging between ₹9.50 and ₹12.50 a unit, was on the higher side and urged the utility to try and get it reduced.The commission is expected to clear the proposal only after a detailed examination.Further, the panel criticised the KSEB for the delay in commissioning battery energy storage system (BESS) projects and failing to make use of the low-cost power available through the Solar Energy Corporation of India. Published - September 03, 2026 09:02 pm IST