The peak power demand in the national capital hit its highest for the summer season so far, at 6,867 megawatt (6.8 gigawatt) on Friday as temperatures rose, according to the data from the State Load Dispatch Center.
The peak load in Delhi is projected to reach 9,000 MW in late June or early July amid forecasts of above normal temperatures and heatwaves. In 2024, the city recorded an all-time peak power demand of 8,656 MW.
The city is experiencing heat wave conditions and is expected to record maximum temperatures between 40 degrees Celsius and 41 degrees Celsius for the next two days, above normal up to 01 – 03 degrees Celsius, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.
“Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (Tata Power-DDL) has successfully met peak power demand of 2,045 MW today (Friday), which is season’s highest so far without any network constraint and power disruption as Delhi touched season’s high of 6,867 MW amidst the ongoing heat wave,” spokesperson of Tata Power – Delhi Distribution Ltd said.
The company that caters to the residents in North Delhi said that it is fully equipped to ensure uninterrupted power supply through a multi-pronged approach that includes advanced avenues like bilateral agreements, reserve shutdown and power exchange.
“To tackle unforeseen contingencies, the company has also secured arrangements for short-term power procurement from the exchange. Further strengthening its reliability, Tata Power-DDL leverages cutting-edge statistical modelling and advanced load-forecasting techniques to predict power demand with high precision,” it said.
The country’s peak demand for power stood at 231 GW as of May 15, as per data from Grid India. The peak demand for power reached 235 GW on April 25, surpassing the maximum peak demand of 224 GW recorded in April 2024. Despite the increase in power demand, the average market clearing price in the Day Ahead Market during April remained competitive at Rs. 5.20 per unit, similar to last year, due to increased supply, according to data from the Indian Energy exchange.
Going ahead the government expects peak demand to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 7% and has projected the country’s peak power demand to cross 270 GW this year.
In response to this rising demand, the government has implemented necessary measures, including the mandatory operation of imported coal-based plants, gas-based plants, and better availability of coal.