The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Delhi’s peak power demand soared to an all-time high of 7,717 MW on Tuesday afternoon as the city endured an intense heatwave, according to Discom officials. The State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) in Delhi reported that this record was reached at 3:33 pm, surpassing the previous peak of 7,695 MW recorded on June 29, 2022.
The national capital is currently facing severe heat, with temperatures steadily rising. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heatwave conditions across many parts of Delhi, with severe heatwave conditions expected in some areas. A red alert has been issued for the next four days, forecasting maximum temperatures between 44 to 47 degrees Celsius.
On Tuesday, Delhi’s minimum temperature was 30.7 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal, while the maximum temperature was expected to reach around 45 degrees Celsius.
Discom officials have projected that Delhi’s peak power demand may surpass 8,000 MW this summer, potentially reaching up to 8,200 MW. On Monday, the city’s peak power demand hit 7,572 MW, the highest ever recorded in May. The previous May peak was 7,438 MW, recorded in 2023.
A spokesperson for BSES discoms BRPL and BYPL stated that the peak demand was successfully met in their respective distribution areas. BRPL and BYPL managed peak power demands of 3,404 MW and 1,728 MW, respectively. The BSES has made advance preparations to meet the soaring demand through power purchase agreements and network strengthening investments. Approximately 2,100 MW of green power will play a crucial role in powering Delhi during the summer months.
Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) successfully met a peak power demand of 2,225 MW in its North Delhi distribution area without any outages or network issues, according to a TPDDL spokesperson.
The increased power demand is primarily due to the extreme weather conditions, leading residents to use more air conditioning and cooling appliances. Discom officials noted that air conditioning can account for 30-50 percent of the total annual energy consumption in both domestic and commercial establishments.