Facing a severe power shortage, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has floated tenders to procure between 300 MW and 800 MW of electricity for the October-December 2026 period.

  • KSEB is seeking 300 MW to 800 MW of power to bridge the supply gap.
  • The procurement targets peak evening and early morning demand periods.
  • Tenders are being processed via the DEEP e-bidding portal.

The embattled Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has officially floated a tender to procure electricity ranging from 300 megawatts (MW) to 800 MW. This strategic move is aimed at meeting the state's power demands for the upcoming three-month period, spanning from October to December 2026.

This urgent procurement comes as Kerala navigates a challenging monsoon-induced power crisis. The utility provider has recently faced significant public backlash due to the imposition of nighttime power curbs to manage the deficit. The proposed short-term purchases are specifically designed to stabilize the grid during peak evening hours and the early morning periods when demand surges significantly.

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Procurement Breakdown

The KSEB has outlined a month-by-month requirement to ensure stability. For October and November, the board is seeking between 300 MW and 600 MW for specific time slots (5 p.m. to midnight and midnight to 8:30 a.m.). For December, the requirement scales up to a range of 500 MW to 800 MW. Furthermore, the board is looking to secure 300 MW of round-the-clock (RTC) supply for each of the three months.

The reliance on short-term procurement highlights the vulnerability of the state's energy grid during seasonal transitions.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that while these tenders provide a necessary buffer, they represent a reactive rather than a proactive energy strategy. The volatility in Kerala's power supply is intrinsically linked to its heavy reliance on hydroelectricity, which fluctuates during the monsoon. Without significant investment in battery energy storage systems (BESS), as urged by regulatory panels, the state remains susceptible to seasonal shortages.

Historical Context and Recent Actions

Historically, Kerala has managed energy deficits by sourcing power from other state utilities. In a recent attempt to mitigate immediate shortages, KSEB sourced 75 MW from Odisha's GRIDCO and 15 MW from ACB India Ltd. The current tender process follows the Ministry of Power's norms and utilizes the Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price (DEEP) e-bidding portal to ensure competitive pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When will the bids be opened?
The non-financial technical bids are scheduled to be opened on September 23, with the initial public offerings opening on September 25.

2. Who can participate in the bidding process?
Bids are invited from power generators, state utilities, captive power producers (CPP), distribution licensees, and energy traders.

Did You Know?: The DEEP e-bidding portal is a centralized platform designed to bring transparency and efficiency to electricity price discovery across India.