Chennai: Dog days are months away. But, the State’s power demand broke all records on Friday to breach 14,000 MW for the first time, that too in February, the fag end of winter season. On Friday, the peak power demand soared to 14,079 MW at 6.40 pm breaking the previous record of 13,775 MW recorded on June 24, 2014.
Interestingly, the peak power demand has been hovering around 13,000 MW in February itself. Till last year, the peak demand in February was about 12,000 MW and only in summer the demand will constantly be around 13,000-13,500 MW.
According to Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation data, the all time high demand of 14,079 MW was recorded on February 19 as against the 12,179 MW on the corresponding date last year. The daily power consumption also touched 300.22 million units (MU) on Friday when compared to 269.47 MUs the same day last year. An all time high energy consumption of 303.039 MUs was recorded on July 8 last year.
A senior Tangedco official said the increase in peak power demand and daily energy consumption was due to withdrawal of restriction and control (R and C) measures imposed on high tension industries and commercial consumers.
Though the state has been recording a load growth of three to four per cent over the past few years, this year, the growth has been tremendous owing to lifting of R and C measures, the official said.
Since June 2015, Tangedco has lifted all R and C measures including 90 per cent power cut imposed on high tension industries and commercial consumers during the peak hours between 6 pm and 10 pm, the official stated, adding that the utility is also supplying three phase power to agricultural consumers. “This may have resulted in increase in peak demand and consumption,” the official said.
When asked about this year’s summer power demand, the official said it may go up by another 200 to 300 MW from 14,000 MW. “It will be met with new capacity additions and long term power agreements, besides wind power,” the official added.
