New Delhi: The city experienced a historic surge in power demand, reaching an unprecedented peak of 7,717 MW on Tuesday afternoon, the highest ever recorded in its history. This milestone comes as the capital grapples with severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures soaring to around 47 degrees Celsius in some areas.
According to data from the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC), this record-breaking demand surpasses Monday's peak of 7,572 MW, which itself was the highest for May afternoons, exceeding the previous May record of 7,438 MW set in 2023.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, predicting continued heatwave conditions over the next four days. The maximum temperatures are expected to remain between 44 to 47 degrees Celsius, with Tuesday's minimum temperature recorded at 30.7 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal.
Discom officials anticipate that Delhi’s peak power demand may cross 8,000 MW this summer, potentially reaching up to 8,200 MW. Efforts to meet this soaring demand include advance power purchase agreements and substantial investments in network strengthening.
BSES discoms BRPL and BYPL reported successful management of peak demands in their respective areas, with BRPL handling 3,404 MW and BYPL 1,728 MW. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) also managed to meet a peak demand of 2,225 MW in North Delhi without outages.
The surge in power consumption is largely driven by increased use of air conditioning and cooling appliances, which can account for 30-50% of total annual energy consumption in homes and businesses.
The extreme heatwave has led to several measures, including the immediate closure of schools for summer vacation as directed by the Directorate of Education (DoE).
The heatwave extends beyond Delhi, affecting parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, with severe conditions expected to persist until May 24. On Monday, Najafgarh recorded the highest temperature in the country at 47.4 degrees Celsius.
With the ongoing severe heatwave, Delhi’s power infrastructure continues to be tested, highlighting the importance of robust planning and resource management in the face of extreme weather conditions. /BI/
