New Delhi: Delhi recorded its highest power demand for the summer season, reaching 6,867 megawatts (MW), according to the State Load Dispatch Center. The spike in electricity usage comes amid soaring temperatures and an ongoing heatwave, with forecasts suggesting even hotter days ahead.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported maximum temperatures hovering between 40°C and 41°C, which is 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal. This has led to a surge in cooling needs across households, offices, and commercial establishments, putting additional pressure on the power grid.
Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (Tata Power-DDL), which supplies electricity to North and North-West Delhi, successfully met its highest seasonal peak load of 2,045 MW on the same day without any network constraints or power outages. A spokesperson from Tata Power-DDL confirmed their preparedness to handle increasing demand in the coming months.
Experts predict that Delhi’s power demand could reach a record 9,000 MW by late June or early July if the current weather trends continue. In 2024, the city had registered an all-time peak of 8,656 MW. Nationally, India’s electricity demand is expected to surpass 270 gigawatts (GW) this year, prompting strategic coal and power supply planning by the central government.
The rising power demand highlights the urgency for reliable infrastructure and energy efficiency measures, especially in the face of intensifying climate conditions.
[Source Credit: Financial Express]
