Electricity consumption in Delhi not affected much during lockdown

NEW DELHI: The Covid-19-induced lockdown had brought economic activities to a near halt, but overall electricity demand in Delhi was not affected significantly beyond the first lockdown period, says an analysis of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on power consumption in the capital during lockdown and unlock phases.
The analysis, covering the city’s electricity demand till the second unlock period (July 31), says the consumption recovered quickly to almost near-normal levels and it was only 10-12 % lower during the unlock period than the corresponding period in 2019.
It found that the lowest demand (1,748 MW) during lockdown phases was recorded on March 29 – just before the onset of high summer. The city’s average daily mean electricity demand rose from 1,946 MW during lockdown 1.0 to nearly 3,812 MW during lockdown 4.0 by the end of May — nearly doubled within the lockdown phases.
Attributing the bullish consumption trend to “heat stress and cooling demand in the residential sector”, the CSE flagged in its report how higher heat stresses this summer combined with thermal discomfort in “poorly designed” buildings increased dependence on air conditioning and upset the energy budget despite lower economic activities.