Bengaluru faces outages due to high power demand

Bengaluru is facing frequent power outages despite Karnataka being labeled a "power-surplus" state. Many residents have raised concerns about the disruptions, especially during high temperatures and exam seasons. State officials admit they are seeing an increase in power outage complaints, although no formal load-shedding has been declared. Energy Minister KJ George highlighted that peak power demand is straining the existing infrastructure. He noted, "Karnataka has no shortage of power during solar hours, but we struggle during peak hours." The state's demand for electricity has surged, reaching a record peak of 18,395 MW on March 7, and is expected to exceed 18,500 MW in April. Three key factors contribute to the outages: overloading transformers, ongoing maintenance work, and technical issues in the transmission and distribution systems. Increased agricultural activities, driven by favorable weather, have greatly amplified power consumption, especially in rural areas. Farmers are now using more irrigation pumps as they cultivate more crops. Additionally, the industrial sector has seen a 7.5% increase in energy demand due to robust growth. Urban areas, including Bengaluru, are also adding to the load because of rising air conditioning use as temperatures climb. Karnataka relies heavily on renewable sources, which pose challenges for power storage. Currently, the state generates only a fraction of its potential solar and wind power due to infrastructure limitations. Officials are working to improve storage capacity and upgrade transmission lines to better handle the growing demand. However, some projects may take years to complete, which could continue to impact power supply during peak hours.