Govt worried as heat pushes power demand higher each day
The unabated heatwave in the national Capital continues to push power demand to newer highs, as Delhi’s peak electricity demand on Friday clocked 6,197 Mega Watt (MW), for the second day in a row. The State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC)’s real time data showed that the city’s peak power demand clocked 6,197 MW, an increase of over 38 per cent from April 1, at 3:31 pm on Friday. Sources said that Delhi’s peak power demand increased by 7.1 per cent in just 48 hours. The IMD has said that the heatwave would persist in several regions, including Delhi, resulting in increased electricity consumption.
In light of the situation, Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain held an emergency meeting with department officials on Friday to examine the situation. Later, he wrote to the Centre asking it to ensure enough coal availability for power plants. The Delhi administration has cautioned residents of a likely disruption in electricity to Metro trains and hospitals due to heavy demand and a severe coal scarcity.
“There may be an issue in 24-hour power supply to various significant institutions, including Delhi Metro and Delhi Government hospitals, due to disruption of power supply from Dadri-II and Unchahar power stations,” Jain said in his letter.
