India's peak power demand hit a record 246.1 GW till 0300 pm Wednesday as northwest and central parts of the country continue to reel under unprecedented heatwave conditions.
The previous record of peak demand was set at 243 GW, including shortage, last September. The peak demand met was 240 GW last year. Peak demand that could not be met today, if any, will be available in a day, a government official said.
Electricity demand surpassed the government's expected peak of 235 GW for solar hours in May. The power ministry had projected peak power demand at 235 GW this month during daytime and 225 GW during evening hours. The national capital recorded the highest ever peak of 8,302 MW as of 530 pm Wednesday. It breached the projected peak demand of up to 8,200 MW this summer. In Delhi, peak power demand crossed 7000 MW for 12 days in a row in May for the first time this calendar year. The city's peak power demand had clocked 8,000 MW on May 22. «The persistent heat wave across north India is leading to a sharp demand surge for electricity in the national capital,» a Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd spokesperson said.
Delhi's BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd said they met peak power demand in their respective areas.