Power shortage looms as demand skyrockets

BENGALURU: With demand for power spiralling — largely due to heavy industrial activity that has picked up steam following the pandemic lull — Karnataka fears a possible energy deficit over the next month.

Senior energy department officials said the state is already recording a deficit of 2,200 million units per day, forcing the government to activate its thermal power plants well ahead of schedule.

“In a normal year, rains would have helped generate enough hydroelectricity to meet demand and that would have meant a downtime for thermal power plants until August 31,” said an official. “But a patchy monsoon has meant reservoirs have too little water for hydropower. We have been forced to activate thermal power plants early.”