A steady recovery in electricity demand, which picked up pace after May 10, offers the first definitive indicator of the gradual return to normalcy following the extended lockdown.
After a sudden plunge nine weeks ago, electricity demand is now within touching distance of the corresponding figures for last year.
In fact, Tuesday’s peak demand figure — the highest power demand met during the day — actually crossed the level of last year, the first time this has happened since March 22.
The more-relevant ‘energy met’ figure for May 26 —an indicator of overall electricity consumption — was marginally short of the figure clocked on the same day last year, according to the latest data compiled by state-owned grid manager Power System Operation Corporation (POSOCO) Ltd.