As the national Capital witnessed the coldest day of this year on Monday, Delhi’s power demand cloaked 4,803 MW at 10:22 am, the highest this season, even surpassing the record of both December 2021 and 2020. According to the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) data, the city’s peak power demand this morning clocked 4803 MW at 10:22 am, the highest this season. “In the areas catered to by BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), the peak power demand clocked 2074 MW and 967 MW respectively,” it stated.

The national capital is gripped in severe cold wave and witnessed the coldest day of the year on Monday as the minimum temperature in the city settled at 5 degrees celsius in the morning, three notches below the normal for this time of the year. However, the maximum temperature of the capital was also recorded as the lowest at 15.6 degrees Celsius, six notches colder than the average for this season, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

“At 4803 MW, Delhi’s peak power demand this year is more than the peak power demand clocked in December of both 2021 and 2020. In December of 2021, Delhi’s peak power demand had clocked 4723 MW and in 2020, 4671 MW,” sources said.

“Delhi’s peak power demand this winter can go up to 5500 MW, surpassing the peak winter demand of the last couple of years. Last year, it had peaked at 5104 MW, and 5021 in 2020,” they said.

“The peak winter power demand in BRPL and BYPL areas had reached 2140 MW and 1122 MW respectively during last winter. This year, it is expected to reach 2289 MW and 1159 MW for BRPL and BYPL respectively,” they underlined.

The BSES officials said that the green power will play important in meeting the power demand in areas under its jurisdiction in winter months. On the other hand, with long-term agreements from power plants; including Hydro and Delhi-based gas-fuelled generating stations, BSES is also receiving 840 MW of solar power from SECI, 439 MW of wind power, ~ 25 MW from Waste-to Energy and. “It is also being helped by 127 MW + of roof-top solar power installed on roof-tops in South, West, East, and Central Delhi,” he said.

“Apart from these, BSES discoms are using avenues like “Banking”, “Power Exchange” and ensuring sufficient “Spinning Reserves” to dispose of surplus power as well as ensuring reliable power supply, as also making arrangements to get power during summer months,” said a senior discoms official, while informing about the measure being taken by them to tackle the increasing power demand in the city.