Bengaluru: Anticipating a surge in power demand during the peak summer months, the state govt on Friday directed all Electricity Supply Companies (Escoms) to put in place comprehensive advance measures to ensure uninterrupted and adequate power supply across Karnataka, while strictly avoiding load shedding under any circumstances. Energy department officials indicated that the state’s power demand could rise by about 5 per cent during the summer of 2026.Reviewing summer preparedness and the projected energy demand in the coming months, Energy minister KJ George chaired a meeting of the department and all Escoms in Bengaluru. He stressed the need for proactive planning in power generation and procurement to balance the seasonal spike in demand during March, April and May.“If we begin preparations now, neither generation nor transmission will pose any difficulty during the peak summer period,” the minister said.The minister directed Escoms to assess the projected summer demand and initiate arrangements well in advance, including power banking. Highlighting Karnataka’s strong solar generation potential during summer, he said solar energy should be optimally utilised during daytime hours, while hydroelectric and coal-based generation should be stepped up during night hours to ensure a balanced and reliable power supply.Reservoirs can generate 33 MU per dayBriefing the minister on reservoir levels and estimated hydroelectric generation, senior officials of the Power Company of Karnataka Limited (PCKL) said that, based on current water storage, the state can generate around 33 million units (MU) of electricity per day until July 2026. They also informed that thermal units at Raichur, Yeramarus and Ballari are being overhauled and readied to support extended and additional power generation during the summer months.Karnataka recorded its highest power demand of 17,220 MW during December 2025, which was successfully met without any load shedding, officials said. “The peak-hour demand during morning and evening was met through a combination of hydro and thermal power generation,” a senior KPCL engineer said. Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Gaurav Gupta said that, apart from planning generation, strengthening transmission infrastructure was equally critical. “Locations with increased load must be identified now, and steps should be initiated to address technical constraints, including strengthening of the link system,” he said.Sign MoUs with sugar factories for powerReferring to earlier power barter arrangements with other states, George said that power could be procured through exchanges or long-term purchase agreements wherever required. He also emphasised the need to enter into agreements with sugar factories that have cogeneration facilities to tap the power generated during the crushing season.“If surplus power is available, we should explore the possibility of selling it to other states. However, under no circumstances should Karnataka face a power shortage,” the minister cautioned officials and Escoms. The minister also noted that aggressive implementation of the KUSUM-C scheme led to the solarisation of several agricultural feeders, enabling 7 hours of daytime power supply to irrigation pump (IP) sets. “As solar power generation peaks during summer, IP sets in other parts of the state should also be provided with 7 hours of 3-phase power during daytime,” he directed. MSID:: 126438913 413 |
