Karnataka and Power are associated with each other for more than a century. Presently about 2 crore installations are connected with the state grid. karnataka have achieved more than 95% electrification of households and a balance of about 39 remote villages are to be electrified. The power demand of the state is constantly increasing along with high expectation of consumers. To increase the capacity addition for emphasizing power availability, separate generating company, KPCL was formed during 1970.
The installed capacity, which was 746 MW during 1970, has presently increased to 6508 MW. The state’s total installed capacity including all sources is at 15,052 MW during 2014-15. Peak demand of 9549 MW has been met by the grid. Demand – Supply gap is still prevailing.
The state is mainly dependent on hydel sources for power generation. No fossil fuels are available for setting up of Thermal Plants. All efforts are being made to increase power generation through renewable and solar sources. More than 5000 MW capacity has been installed through renewable sources. The state is committed for solar power generation by establishing a 2000 MW Solar Park and 20 MW each solar projects in 60 taluks with net capacity of 1200 MW.
Thermal Power plants
Bellary thermal power plant
The power station is located at Kudatini in Bellary district of Karnataka state, India. The first 500 MW unit was commissioned in 2007, and the second 500 MW unit was commissioned on March 23, 2012. A third unit of 700 MW is under construction, originally planned for commissioning in 2014, and then pushed to December 2015.
Unit 3 was commissioned in January 2016.
Raichur Thermal Power Plant
The plant consists of eight units, commissioned between 1985 and 2010. It was the first thermal coal plant built in Karnataka. The most recent unit added to the plant is Unit 8 (250 MW), which was commissioned in June 2010. 
there is a proposal for two more units at the plant (Units 9 and 10) of 500MW each.
Yeramarus Thermal Power Station
Yeramarus power station is a 1,600-megawatt (MW) coal plant near Yedlapur village, Riachur district. Unit 1 was commissioned in March 2016. Unit 2 was synchronized in July 2016,and is planned for commercial operation in January 2017.
Hydropower
Sir sheshadri Iyer hydroelectric plant
Build in 1902 on Cauvery river known to be as first Hydroelectric plant of south Asia .It has a installed capacity of 42 MW.
Shravathi generating Station
The River Kabini is one of the major tributaries of the River Cauvery and the backwaters area about 200km from Bangalore is a noted wildlife refuge. A 29m dam across the Kabini was built for irrigation near Bidarahalli and Beechanahalli villages in Heggadevana Kote Taluk, Mysore Dist.
Almatti Dam
power house was built on the toe of an existing dam on the Krishna River in Bagalkot Dist. The power station was in development for years as part of the Upper Krishna multipurpose project. The 1,500m long dam was built by Gammon from 1991-1998, but operation of a hydro project necessitted increase water storage. It has a capacity of 180 MW.
Ghatprabha
This dam across the Mahi River, a major tributary of the Krishna River, was completed for irrigation purposes in 1979. The powerhouse is located on the right bank of the dam headworks. it has a capacity of 32 MW.
Varahi
In Dec 2006, a consortium of VA TECH companies won a turnkey contract to install two 115-MW Pelton T/G sets at Varahiat Hosangadi. This was originally designed for four units and the first stage of 2 x 115 MW units was commissioned in 1989/90. The extension cost Rs291cr and the units commissioned in Jan 2009. Varahi has the first underground powerhouse in the state.
Kodasalli
The Kallada Dam is on the Kalinadi River in Uttara Kannada district. It has a installed capacity of 80 MW.
Mahatma Ghandi Tail Race
Development and construcio of MGHETRS was managed by Soahm Reneweable Energy. The project is near Jog Falls, Shimoga, and features a 25m diversion dam and a 3.2km, 4.5m dia headrace tunnel. It was one of the first Indian projects commissioned under the Indian Electricity Act 2003 to be classified as a “Captive Power Project” by Praxair India (P) Ltd and also one of the first registered as a CDM project. Capacity of 22 MW.
Kabini Dam
The River Kabini is one of the major tributaries of the River Cauvery and the backwaters area about 200km from Bangalore is a noted wildlife refuge. A 29m dam across the Kabini was built for irrigation near Bidarahalli and Beechanahalli villages in Heggadevana Kote Taluk, Mysore Dist. Capacity of 20 MW.
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