Delhi's peak power demand reduces by up to 49 per cent during lockdown

Delhi's peak power demand has reduced by up to 49% with commercial and industrial activities virtually at a standstill due to lockdown imposed to contain spread of coronavirus, discom and power department officials said. According to official data, peak power demand during day has reduced by 40-50 per cent, while peak electricity demand during night has reduced by around 20-30 per cent.

higher reduction in day's power demand is due to closure of commercial and industrial establishments in lockdown which has led to around 70-90% reduction of electricity demand in this segment, officials said. Since Janta Curfew on March 22 which was followed by nationwide lockdown, city's peak power demand has reduced by up to 49% in comparison with peak electricity demand last year, officials said.

" reduction in peak demand is basically due to reduction in industrial and commercial activities during lockdown," a spokesperson of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) said. However, domestic load has experienced impact during lockdown.

"People are confined to ir homes and using electric appliances. So, re is impact on Delhi's domestic load, which is around 75% of total power load. In fact, re is a slight increase in this category," a discom official said.

power demand situation is expected to remain same till lockdown is in force. demand is expected to rise with an increase in temperature in summers, he said.

"Being in essential services, BSES is always geared-up to ensure quality and reliable power supply to its consumers. We are closely watching evolving coronavirus situation in national capital and taking all appropriate measures to ensure reliable power supply," a spokesperson of power discom BSES.

According to officials, Delhi's peak power demand in March considerably declined, even before lockdown was anunced. On March 15, national capital’s peak power demand was 3421 megawatt (MW) that sharply reduced by around 33 per cent on March 22 to 2294 MW.

city’s electricity demand was 4016 MW in March last year, while this year, it was 3775 MW, officials said. Since lockdown, Delhi's highest peak power demand has been 2486 MW on March 25, 2020, y said. Delhi's peak electricity demand in April last year was 5664 MW, while peak demand till April 22 this year was 3169 MW -- reduced by 44%.

With lockdown expected to be eased out in a phased manner from May 3, demand is expected to pick up (as per projections) in June and July, officials said.

For May, demand is expected to be reduced by about 15 per cent from projected values if lockdown is lifted. But if lockdown gets extended, aver reduction in demand is expected to be around 43-45 per cent in comparison to last year's peak electricity demand during month, officials said.

In view of heatwave predictions, however, aver reduction in peak demand will fall to about 35 per cent in June and July, y added