Palakkad: Power Minister K Krishnankutty clarified that no unannounced power restrictions have been imposed in the state. He said disruptions are mainly caused by transformers failing due to excessive usage. When the system gets overloaded, power supply trips automatically, and the issue can be resolved if a few households reduce consumption even for a minute. He described this as a natural control mechanism in a statement to Mathrubhumi News.

The minister urged the public to exercise self-restraint to overcome the power crisis. He advised avoiding high-consumption appliances like heaters and washing machines, especially during evening peak hours. He also called for cooperation from the opposition on this issue.

Due to intense summer heat and reduced rainfall, power consumption has risen sharply. Air conditioners, once considered a luxury, have now become a necessity in many homes, contributing to increased nighttime overload. Lapses by the KSEB in renewing contracts have also been cited as a factor behind the crisis. There is criticism that adequate preparations were not made despite prior warnings.

Power consumption has crossed an all-time high of 117 million units, leading to reports of unannounced load shedding in recent days. It is also reported that the Electricity Board has informally instructed 15-minute load shedding during nighttime. In parts of the Malabar region, load shedding had begun about a week ago.