Kerala power demand hits record high amid heatwave, crosses 6,000 MW

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s electricity consumption has surged to record levels as the state grapples with intense summer heat, with April 14 marking the highest-ever power demand.

State Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, said the total daily consumption reached 112.52 million units, the highest recorded so far this month.

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During peak hours on Tuesday, power demand touched 6,012 MW, marking an all-time high in the state’s history, he said.

The minister attributed the spike primarily to increased use of air conditioners and fans amid soaring temperatures.

He urged consumers to cooperate in maintaining an uninterrupted power supply by avoiding unnecessary use of lights and high-power appliances during peak hours between 6 pm and 11 pm.

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Meanwhile, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued a heat alert for several districts from April 15 to April 19, 2026.

In a statement on Wednesday, KSDMA said maximum temperatures could reach around 40 degrees Celsius in isolated areas of Palakkad, 39 degrees Celsius in Kollam, and 38 degrees Celsius in Kottayam.

Temperatures are likely to hover around 37 degrees Celsius in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod, while Thiruvananthapuram may record around 36 degrees Celsius, about 2 to 3 degrees above normal.