New Delhi: In August, India's electricity usage dropped to 144.21 billion units (BU), a 4.7 pc decrease from the previous year, primarily because of the excess rainfall nationwide leading to less reliance on cooling devices such as air conditioners and desert coolers. The Indian Meteorological Department reported that in August, the country experienced a rainfall of 287.1 mm, which is approximately 16 per cent more than the usual 248.1 mm.
According to official figures, power consumption reached 151.32 BU in August 2023. The peak power demand met decreased to 216.68 GW in August 2024 from 236.29 GW in the same month last year. The highest power requirement reached approximately 250GW in May of this year, breaking the record. The highest peak power demand of 243.27 GW was previously set in September 2023.
At the beginning of the year, the power ministry estimated a maximum power requirement of 235 GW in the daytime and 225 GW in the evening for May, and 240 GW in the daytime and 235 GW in the evening for June. The ministry also predicted that peak power demand could reach 260 GW in the upcoming summer.
Experts stated that the abundant rainfall across the country led to a decrease in the usage of cooling devices such as air conditioners and desert coolers. They stated that this resulted in a decrease in power usage and an increase in power needs in the country during the month of August. They mentioned that the demand for electricity and usage will remain constant in the upcoming days because of the increase in commercial and industrial consumption during the festival season starting from Ganesh Chaturthi this month.
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