‘Money not priority, power is,’ says Minister Sunny Joseph on Kerala move to buy costly electricity

KOCHI: Kerala is prepared to purchase electricity at significantly higher rates to ensure adequate power supply amid rising demand, Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph said, even as he acknowledged the move could add to the state government’s financial burden.

Speaking to reporters, Joseph said the government was exploring all available options to procure additional electricity, including supplies priced at around ₹30 per unit.

“Right now, we are trying to purchase power by any means as many people are saying they want electricity even if the price is high,” Joseph said.

His remarks came as Kerala faces the challenge of securing additional electricity to meet demand in the state.

Joseph also criticised the previous LDF government over the scrapping of a long-term power purchase agreement under which electricity was available at ₹4.20 per unit.

The minister acknowledged that buying electricity at substantially higher tariffs would impose an additional financial burden on the government, but indicated that ensuring uninterrupted power availability was the immediate priority.

He said the government had not, at present, considered passing the additional cost on to consumers through a cess.

The remarks underline the sharp difference between the ₹4.20-per-unit rate under the earlier long-term agreement and some of the prices Kerala may now have to consider as it looks for additional power supplies.