Karnataka keeps power deficit at 0.2 percent despite surging demand in Bengaluru

Karnataka maintained a highly stable power supply with a very low deficit of 0.2 percent in the 2023-24 fiscal year, despite a sharp rise in energy demand driven by rapid urbanization and industrial growth in and around Bengaluru. According to official data recently tabled in the Rajya Sabha, the state's power infrastructure successfully met the vast majority of its electricity needs.

In the 2022-23 fiscal year, Karnataka’s energy requirement stood at 75,688 million units (MU). Of this, the state supplied 75,663 MU, leaving a marginal shortfall of just 26 MU, which was effectively zero percent.

By the 2023-24 fiscal year, the state's power demand increased significantly to 94,088 MU, reflecting rapid economic expansion. The state managed to supply 93,934 MU during this period. Although the absolute shortfall rose to 154 MU, the energy deficit was kept to just 0.2 percent.

An expert noted that the data highlights a key trend where Karnataka's supply system is largely keeping pace with rapidly rising demand. The expert attributed the increase in consumption to urbanization, industrial growth, and higher household usage, particularly in the Bengaluru region.

Karnataka's performance remains strong when compared to several other large Indian states. During the 2022-23 fiscal year, states like Uttar Pradesh reported a 0.8 percent deficit, Rajasthan recorded 1.7 percent, Bihar stood at 2.0 percent, and Jharkhand faced a deficit as high as 7.5 percent. Even in 2023-24, Bihar and Jharkhand continued to face notable shortfalls of 1.4 percent and 3.8 percent respectively, while Karnataka kept its deficit well below 1 percent.

Among southern states, Karnataka’s 0.2 percent deficit in 2023-24 was slightly higher than Tamil Nadu and Telangana, which reported near-zero gaps. However, it remained comparable to Kerala's minimal shortfall levels and was lower than earlier deficits seen in Andhra Pradesh, which improved from 0.6 percent in 2022-23 to 0.1 percent in 2023-24.

At the all-India level, the overall power supply situation has also shown signs of improvement. The country's total energy requirement rose from 15,13,497 MU in 2022-23 to 16,26,132 MU in 2023-24. National supply increased from 15,05,914 MU to 16,22,020 MU, reducing the national energy deficit from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent.

Regionally, the southern grid, which includes Karnataka, performed well by reducing its overall deficit from 0.2 percent to 0.1 percent. In contrast, eastern and north-eastern regions continued to face higher shortfalls due to infrastructure and supply constraints.

Experts suggest that while Karnataka's current deficit remains minimal, the rise in absolute shortfall indicates a need for continued investment in power generation and distribution to balance future demand.