The scorching heat and dry weather on Tuesday pushed the peak power demand to 7055 megawatt (MW) in the national Capital. This is the first time this summer that power  demand has crossed the 7,000 MW-mark.

According to the State Load Dispatch Center (SLDC) real time data, the power demand crossed 7098 MW at 3:29 PM on Tuesday.

The power distribution companies — BRPL (BSES Rajdhani Power Limited) and BYPL (BSES Yamuna Power Limited) — “successfully” met the peak power demand — 3103 MW and 1615 MW, respectively in their areas.

Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) has successfully met the power demand of 2,055 MW peak demand so far, said a company spokesperson. According to sources, Delhi’s peak power demand has seen huge variations this month. It has increased from 4390 MW on June 1 to today’s high – an increase of 2708 MW or 61 per cent. 

Delhi reeled under hot weather conditions on Monday with the maximum temperature settling at 42 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature on Tuesday around 42 degree degrees Celsius while several weather stations have recorded 43-44 degree Celsius.

Last year in June, there were nine such occasions when Delhi’s power demand exceeded 7000 MW, with June 29 setting an all-time high record of 7695 MW. Additionally, June 2022 saw the power demand crossing the 6000 MW mark on 11 occasions and the 5000 MW mark on 8 occasions.

In 2018, the peak power demand breached the 7000 MW mark for the first time, reaching a peak of 7016 MW. The expected peak power demand of around 8100 MW in the present year represents a staggering increase of approximately 280% compared to the peak power demand of 2879 MW recorded in 2002.

Sources said to meet the power demand of approximately 2 crore residents in South, West, East, and Central Delhi, the BSES discoms have made extensive preparations. These arrangements include long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and banking arrangements with other states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Through these arrangements, BSES discoms can procure up to 630 MW BRPL (up to 330 MW) and (up to 300 MW) of power.

It further said that green power will play an important role in ensuring reliable power during the summer months in BSES area.

This includes around 888 MW of solar power from SECI, 486 MW of wind power, 40 MW from Waste-to Energy. BSES efforts in ensuring reliable power are also being helped by 130 MW+ of roof-top solar installed on roof-tops in South, West, East and Central Delhi.

Additionally, BRPL will also procure upto 500 MW through bilateral contract. In case of any unforeseeable contingency, BSES discoms will buy short-term power from the exchange, depending on the time-slot. Adding to these efforts are the advanced load-forecasting statistical and modeling techniques, which use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to help the discom accurately forecast the power demand.