{
  "id": 5355016,
  "title": "Kerala State Electricity Board spends ₹1,190 crore on power purchases during April-August 2026",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/kerala-state-electricity-board-spends-1-190-crore-on-power-purchases",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T15:33:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-state-electricity-board-spends-1190-crore-on-power-purchases-during-april-august-2026/article71424525.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "During April to August 2026, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) spent ₹1,190 crore on procuring power, according to the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission. The expenditure was incurred through short-term contracts and power exchanges. On September 3, 2026, the commission held a hearing on KSEB's petition requesting permission to acquire electricity to fulfill projected additional demand from September 1, 2026 to May 15, 2027. The commission pointed out that the power purchase cost, ranging between ₹9.50 and ₹12.50 per unit, was relatively high and recommended the utility to strive for a reduction. The commission is anticipated to approve the proposal only after a thorough assessment. Furthermore, the panel criticized KSEB for the delay in launching battery energy storage system (BESS) projects and for not utilizing the low-cost power available through the Solar Energy Corporation of India.",
  "summary": "Power procurement made under short-term contracts and via power exchange. Panel criticises KSEB for delay in commissioning battery energy storage system projects and failing to make use of the low-cost power available through the Solar Energy Corporation of India",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}