Power Consumption Rises 1.3 % to 34.23 B Units in First 10 Days of Dec

Discom Losses in Focus

India’s power consumption grew by 1.3 per cent in the first ten days of this month from December 1 to 10 to 34.23 billion units (BU) over the same period a year ago, according to power ministry data. In 2020, power consumption was 33.78 BU during December 1 to 10. In the entire month of December 2020, consumption was 105.62 BU, up from 101.08 BU in December 2019.

The increase was expected, considering the demand recovery seen across the economy so far. Hopes in fact have been high that the economy will be back to pre-pandemic levels as early as Q1 of 2022-23.

During the first 10 days of December this year, the peak power demand met or the highest supply in a day, touched 169.12 Gigawatt (GW) compared to 165.42 GW in the same period in 2020. The peak power demand met in December 2020 was 182.78 GW, up from 170.49 GW in December.

In November this year, the power consumption grew by 2.6 per cent to 99.37 BU. Last year in November, power consumption stood at 96.88 BU and in the same month in 2019, it was at 93.94 BU.

The country’s power consumption had grown by 3.3 per cent in October this year to 112.79 BU compared to 109.17 BU in the same month last year. In fact, there was a temporary power crisis of sorts as the thermal powered economy seemed set to stumble on coal supplies. That seems to have been managed well, although private sector players have still to see coal supplies resume to needed levels.

Many states had imposed lockdown restrictions after the second wave of the pandemic hit the nation in April this year and affected the recovery in commercial and industrial power demand as states started imposing restrictions in the latter part of the month. Curbs were gradually lifted as the number of COVID cases fell.

Power consumption witnessed 6.6 per cent year-on-year growth in May this year at 108.80 BU, despite a low base of 102.08 BU in the same month of 2020.

In June, it grew nearly 9 per cent to 114.48 BU, compared to 105.08 BU in the same month last year. In July, it rose to 123.72 BU from 112.14 BU in the same month a year ago. In August this year, power consumption grew by over 17 per cent at 127.88 BU compared to 109.21 BU in the same month in 2020.

Power consumption in September this year witnessed subdued recovery with almost flat growth at 112.43 BU mainly due to delayed monsoon (heavy rains). In September last year, power consumption was 112.24 BU.