Despite Karnataka being classified as a power-surplus state, many areas in Bengaluru and tier-2 cities continue to suffer from frequent power disruptions. With rising temperatures and exam stress, residents are questioning the state energy department about the outages.

While the government insists that no official load-shedding has been imposed, complaints of power failures are increasing. Energy Minister KJ George attributed the issues to surging electricity consumption, especially during peak hours, straining the existing transmission infrastructure.

A recent presentation by the energy department cited three primary causes: overloaded transformers, ongoing maintenance work, and technical limitations in power transmission and distribution. Karnataka’s power demand has consistently exceeded 18,000 MW, peaking at 18,395 MW on March 7, and is expected to reach 18,500 MW in April.

Key reasons for rising demand include increased agricultural activity, with farmers growing a third crop due to ample water supply. This has led to higher irrigation pump usage, particularly in Tumakuru, Mandya, Vijayapura, and Belagavi. Additionally, industrial expansion has driven energy demand up by 7.5%, while urban areas are consuming more power due to air conditioning use.

Despite Karnataka generating over 50% of its electricity from renewables, storing excess solar and wind power remains a challenge. Officials are now prioritizing battery storage infrastructure and upgrading substations to manage peak-hour demand.