MUMBAI : With the central and state governments offering concessions on tariffs and payment deadlines to electricity consumers and distribution companies during the ongoing lockdown, power generators are once again left holding the bag. Power demand fell roughly 25-30% across the country in March, anecdotal information from power generators has revealed, as they fear they will bear the brunt of the covid-19 lockdown.
After four continuous months of decline at the end of 2019, national power demand picked up in January and February. According to Power Ministry estimates, in February, base and peak power demand increased 11.1% and 9.2% respectively year-on-year, largely due to a revival in industrial activity and the leap year effect. However, these numbers have crashed in March, and energy consumption declined 21-22% after the nationwide lockdown was implemented.
