Electricity consumption is expected to grow at double-digit rates in the coming months, experts say. (document)
New Delhi:
From April to February of this fiscal year, India’s electricity consumption surged by 10% to 1,375.57 billion units (BU), which has exceeded the electricity consumption level for the whole of 2021-22.
Government figures show electricity consumption for April-February 2021-22 at 1245.54 BU.
For the full fiscal year 2021-22, electricity consumption was 1374.02 BU, down from 1375.57 BU recorded between April 2022 and February 2023.
Electricity consumption is expected to grow at double-digit rates in the coming months, experts say, given forecasts of unprecedentedly high demand, especially during the summer.
The Ministry of Power estimated the country’s peak electricity demand in April this year at 229 GW, up from 215.88 GW in the same month last year.
The ministry has taken a number of measures to meet high electricity demand and asked state utilities not to conduct blackouts or load shedding.
The ministry also required all imported coal-fired power plants to operate at full capacity from March 16, 2023 to June 15, 2023.
In addition, it requires other coal-fired power companies to import coal to mix with domestic dry fuel.
Experts say higher economic activity will boost business and industrial demand in the coming months.
In addition, they believe that the hot summer will lead to higher electricity consumption of air conditioners and other cooling equipment.
They believe meeting India’s unprecedentedly high electricity demand from April will be a challenge.
(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and was automatically generated from syndicated feeds.)
