Power Consumption up Nearly 20 Percent in May

Transmission Gets Stronger Push with Approval of Green Power Transmission Line in Bundelkhand

Power consumption in the country grew by nearly 20 percent in the first fortnight of May to 51.67 BU over the same period last year.

Power consumption in the country grew by nearly 20 percent in the first fortnight of May to 51.67 billion units (BU) over the same period last year, showing recovery in commercial and industrial demand of electricity, according to the power ministry data. Power consumption during the same period in May 2020 was 43.55 BU. The power consumption in the entire month of May last year was 102.08 BU.

During the first fortnight of May this year (from May 1 to 14), peak power demand met or the highest supply in a day touched the highest level of 168.78 GW (on May 6, 2021) and recorded growth of over 15 percent over 146.54 GW (peak met) recorded in the same period in 2020 (on May 13, 2020).

According to data made available by the Power Ministry last month, power consumption in India had grown by 41 percent in April 2021 to reach 119.27 billion units (BU) over the same month last year, showing what the ministry believes to be a robust recovery in industrial and commercial demand of electricity. 

Consumption in April last year was recorded at 84.55 BU. On the other hand, peak power demand met, which is the highest supply in a day, during the first half of this month remained well above the highest record of 132.20 GW in April 2020. During April this year, peak power demand met or the highest supply in a day touched the highest level of 182.55 GW and recorded a growth of nearly 38 percent over 132.73 GW recorded in the same month in 2020.

In February, we had reported that the country’s power consumption increased to a three-month high of nearly 6 percent at 111.43 billion units (BU) in January 2021. It was reported that power consumption in January 2020 was 105.15 BU.

According to Power Ministry figures, after a gap of six months, power consumption recorded a 4.5 percent year-on-year growth in September and 11.6 percent in October. In November 2020, the power consumption growth slowed to 3.12 percent, mainly due to the early onset of winters. In December, power consumption grew by nearly five percent.

At the time, it was believed that the nearly six percent growth in power consumption and all-time high peak power demand of 188.45 GW in January give sufficient evidence that most of the economic activities are now at pre-pandemic levels. And it is expected that power demand growth to be more robust and consistent in the coming months.