India's power demand touches all-time high of over 2 lakh MW in April

India's electricity demand has touched a record-high of 2,15,882 MW on 18th April, said Grid Controller of India Ltd. As per the report, the rise in demand is due to soaring temperatures across the country and high manufacturing capacity utilisation.

The data showed that the demand on 18th April 2023 was 2% higher than last summer's demand of 2,11,856 MW which was met on June 10, 2022. Likewise, this year's demand is 4% higher than the demand met in April last year.

As per Financial Times, the maximum electricity demand met in April 2022 was 2,07,111 MW (207 GW) with a peak shortage of 8,120 MW on April 29, 2022. As per the daily reports of Grid India, there was a peak shortage of 2,021 MW, despite meeting the demand of 2,15,882 MW. Hence the actual demand for power on 18th April was 2,17,903 MW.

As per the Ministry of Power, for the current year the peak demand is expected to be around 2,29,000 MW during the summer. The months of April and May of 2023 is projected as high-demand period.

According to Central Electricity Authority’s daily coal data update, out of the 180 thermal plants across the country, 47 plants have coal stocks that are at critical levels, as on April 17.

The gvernment has also taken several steps such as ensuring availability of the generation capacity, coordination with ministries of coal and railways to increase production and dispatch of coal, and directions to gencos to import coal to fill any supply gap to meet the increased demand for power.