Peak power demand exceeds 250 GW through most of September

New Delhi: Peak domestic power demand is sustaining record highs for September, exceeding 250 GW, on most days, close to the levels seen in summer. Demand reached 250 GW Thursday, fuelled by cooling and irrigation needs.

India's power sector planner recently said the country will require additional base load through conventional sources such as thermal power plants to meet the strong demand, along with renewable energy sources. Power consumption in September rose around 11% driven by cooling and irrigation requirements amid below-normal monsoon rainfall.

October, when demand tends to start falling with the onset of cooler months, saw its highest-ever peak power demand met at 260 GW on October 5. Only a few days in the month, this demand figure fell below 240 GW. "Demand is expected to reduce next week with lower pressure on cooling appliances and irrigation," a government official told ET.


Electricity prices in the day-ahead market of the Indian Energy Exchange are hovering above ₹7 a unit so far this month. Coal stocks at power plants, which fell sharply as heavy rains in coal-bearing regions hit production and supply, are currently at around 18 million tonnes.

Coal stocks at domestic coal-based power plants fell to 17.9 million tonnes as of October 15 from 18.2 million tonnes on October 10 and 18.5 million tonnes as of October 1. Plants using imported coal have 2.4 million tonnes of inventory. Of the 190 coal-based power plants in the country, as many as 82 are facing critical fuel levels. This means their coal stock is less than a quarter of the normal, the target quantity that thermal plants must keep onsite to ensure uninterrupted electricity generation.