The scorching heat on Tuesday sent Delhi’s power demand soaring to the year’s highest at 6,021 MW. This is the earliest that the city has crossed the 6,000 MW mark.
The peak power consumption was recorded around 3.32 p.m as per data released by power discom BSES (BRPL in south and west Delhi and BYPL in east and central Delhi).
Last year, the 6,000 MW mark was crossed on May 20, when it had clocked 6,188 MW.
It was the first time ever that the power demand had crossed the 6,000 MW in the month of May.
In the last 10 years, the peak power demand in May has oscillated between 4,000 MW and 5,500 MW.
Breaking records
This year, Delhi has been creating new records when it comes to power consumption. In April, power demand touched 5,685 MW, 18% higher than the demand recorded in April of last year.
On March 30 this year, the power demand touched 4,116 MW, almost 14% higher than in the same month last year.
The highest ever peak power demand of 6,261 MW was recorded on June 30 last year.
This year the estimated peak demand may cross 6,500 MW. And at this rate of consumption, the estimated peak demand is likely to be crossed by the end of May.
This sudden spike could also trigger local faults in the supply network.
The discoms, however, said they are prepared to meet the peak power demand.
“These arrangements include long-term power purchase agreements and banking arrangements with other States. BRPL will be getting around 200 MW of power through banking arrangements and BYPL around 170 MW. In case of unforeseen contingencies due to low generation and outages of power plants, the discoms will purchase short-term power from the exchange,” the BSES said.
Impact of heatwave
Weather experts said that though the maximum temperature on Tuesday was only a notch above the season’s average at 41.4 degrees Celsius, Delhi is still reviving from a heat wave. In the last few days, the temperatures had crossed the average by almost five degrees.
The experts, however, said that the situation is likely to improve as maximum temperature are forecast to come down by the weekend.
