Electricity consumption is rising in Kerala due to rising temperatures and concerns over the availability of cooking gas. If the war in West Asia continues, the Kerala State Electricity Board’s (KSEB) calculations for the summer season may go awry. More electricity may have to be purchased at higher prices. The increase in load could also affect distribution systems.

On Thursday, the consumption was 10.27 crore units of electricity. This is the record for March. On Wednesday, it was 10.08 crore units. On Monday, consumption crossed 10 crore units for the first time. This is higher than the consumption on the same days last year.

The highest consumption in history was 11.59 crore units on May 3, 2024.

The KSEB had prepared on the basis that consumption would increase by 10 to 15 per cent this summer. Preparations were made accordingly. In the summer of 2024, when consumption increased abnormally, there were instances of transformers getting damaged.

As restrictions have come in the availability of cooking gas, more people are already using electricity for cooking. The induction stove is an appliance that requires high levels of electricity. If induction cookers are widely used in the evenings, the KSEB may have to purchase more electricity from outside at higher prices. This could also lead to an increase in tariffs.

Daytime temperatures are currently above average. There is no precise estimate of how much additional electricity will be required as the heat increases.

The summer of 2024 had seen more intense conditions. On many days then, up to 50 lakh units more per day were consumed compared with the summer of 2025.