Delhi’s peak power demand on Tuesday afternoon was a record 6,464 megawatts (MW) amid a heat wave that kept temperatures several degrees above normal for several days.
The demand recorded at 3.22 pm on Tuesday was the highest of 8,302 MW on May 29 this year, higher than the authority’s forecast for summer, according to the State Load Distribution Center (SLDC), Delhi. The capital’s power demand crossed the 8,000mw mark for the first time on May 22.
It was also the 30th day that Delhi’s peak power demand exceeded 7,000 MW, the longest streak for the capital, data showed.
The national capital has been gripped by its third heatwave this summer, with the streak now lasting 10 days to June 9 in a 12-year spell.
Delhi’s electricity demand on June 29, 2024 was 7,695 MW – an all-time high on June 29, 2022, discomena officials said. In April, discoms estimated the city’s peak demand around 8,200 MW this summer, a forecast that has now been surpassed.
Delhi’s peak power demand crossed 7,000 MW on Tuesday. However, Delhi’s electricity distribution system cannot meet such a huge demand.
BSES subsidiaries BRPL and BYPL, which supply electricity to south, west, east and central parts of Delhi, said on Tuesday they met the demand of 3,750 MW and 1,858 MW respectively, a spokesperson said.
Tata Power DDL (TPDDL), which supplies electricity to north and northwest Delhi, said it has successfully met the peak power demand with a peak capacity of 2,446 MW.
The company has taken adequate measures through long-term and short-term measures and will ensure uninterrupted power supply during the power surge occurring in Cirebon,” said TPDDL spokesperson.
DC in Delhi has more than 40 power purchase agreements (PPAs) with many power plants that generate power for the capital. A PPA is a long-term supply agreement, usually signed between a power producer and a distributor or discom.
In addition, the discom relies on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning models to accurately predict load, which enables Del to avoid peak demand. It also depends on the forecast of the Met department, the prevailing temperature, the current demand and whether the particular day is a weekend or a weekday.
Delhi Transco Limited (DTL), which operates and maintains Delhi’s transmission line system and supplies electricity to distribution companies, said this peak power demand was 16% higher than last year’s peak of 7,438 MW on August 22. To ensure the safety and reliability of the electricity system in Delhi, the general public is requested to switch off non-essential loads such as lights, electrical appliances or signage between 2-4 pm and 10 pm. until 12:30,” he said.
“Furthermore, it is required to operate at 26-27°C during peak hours to save energy and control peak demand in the safety and reliability of the overall power system,” he said.
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