According to former chairman Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and power consultant S N Roy, Delhi should not register peak demand of more than 1500 mw whereas this summer demand peaked to 2600 mw. The additional demand of 1100 mw, according to him is, entirely on account of high time peak losses.

In a paper presented at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently Roy has argued that the connected load of all consumers in Delhi at the end of March 1996 was only 3200 mw out of which 50 comprised of domestic loads. During the last three years on a conservative basis the demand could reach 4500 mw on account of normal growth and unauthorised connections, he says.

The diversity factor (the ratio of connected load to maximum demand) in the northern region is three whichtranslates into a demand of 1500 mw, he says. According to Roy, as domestic load is predominant, the diversity factor should still be higher and therefore there is no justification why the demand should exceed 1500 mw. BSES with similar composition of connected load has a diversity factor of 4.3, he says. During low demand months from October to March when tube well and AC loads are low, demand is at about 1000 mw which increases by 500mw to about 1500 mw in next six months. The technical and commercial losses in Delhi are reported at 45 per cent.