April power demand hits new peak at 5,769MW in Delhi

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Delhi’s peak power demand broke yet another record on Wednesday and clocked 5,769 megawatt (MW) at 3.30pm, which is the highest ever for the national capital in April.

The peak power demand had clocked 5,681 MW in Delhi on Tuesday.

Sources said the previous record was 5,761 MW, registered just a week before, on April 20. The unabated heatwave in the national capital continues to push the power demand to newer highs. Delhi’s peak power demand in April 2022 has crossed 5,000 MW on 18 days vis-a-vis zero days in 2021 and 2020. In 2019, it crossed the 5000 MW mark on seven occasions.

“Delhi’s peak power demand has increased by 29 per cent since April 1 when it had clocked 4,469 MW and by 42 per cent since March 1 this year when it touched 4,040 MW,” said an official. From March 1, Delhi’s peak power demand has increased by over 42 per cent, to 4,040 MW.

Delhi’s peak power demand has clocked the highest ever in April on three occasions this month, each breaking the previous record in quick succession. On April 19, it was 5,735 MW; on April 20, it was 5,761 MW and 5,769 MW on Wednesday.

According to BSES, Delhi’s peak power demand so far was 7,409 MW which was recorded in 2019. It was 6,314 MW in 2020 and 7,323 MW in 2021.

In the BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) area of East and Central Delhi, the peak power demand, which had reached 1,656 MW and 1,439 MW during the summers of 2021 and 2020 respectively, is expected to touch around 1,800 MW this year.

The BSES said its power distribution companies are geared up to source adequate electricity to meet the power demand of over 18 million residents in South, West, East and Central Delhi.

These arrangements include long term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and banking arrangements with other states including Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Goa and Arnachal Pradesh, it said.

BSES distribution companies will get up to 690 MW (BRPL 440 MW, BYPL 250 MW) of power through banking arrangements, according to the statement. It said BSES distribution companies have invested substantial resources to strengthen the network.

A large part of the augmentation, which is necessary to carry the additional power load during summer months, has already been undertaken, the BSES statement released last month read.