Corona impact: Power demand dips again, down 3.6% in first half of March

Reversing the trend witnessed in the first two months of 2020, power demand has recorded a negative growth in the first half of March. It is likely that electricity consumption in FY20 will increase at the slowest pace in six years.

In the first 15 days of March, the country consumed 51 billion units (BU) of electricity, 3.6% lower than the demand in the same period last year. After the 10.8% rise in February, power demand was continuing to grow at a favourable rate in the first five days of March, but has been contracting each day thereafter. The dip in electricity usage coincides with businesses starting to take pre-emptive measures to contain the impact of coronavirus, reduced social gatherings and shutting down of schools and colleges, malls and cinemas.