53% rise in electricity usage since June in Maharashtra

According to a recent survey, it has come to light that there has been a 53 per cent increase in electricity consumption in Maharashtra compared to the initial months of the COVID-19 lockdown, and power demand has touched 23,000MW in January.

This development comes after the Mission Begin Again from June onwards—with many industries, manufacturing units, and private sector companies reopening in phases and the consumption demand increasing gradually, experts said.

Many offices resumed with 30-50 per cent staff while industrial power consumption too went up by at least 20 per cent over the past few months. The latest relaxations, which allow more offices, shops, malls, multiplexes, and restaurants to reopen, have led to more consumption.

According to sources, thermal power generation has also gone up from 5,000MW a few months back to over 7,000MW now. The demand for power fell to as low as 15,000MW in April and May last year but has now returned to normal levels. 

Mumbai’s power demand during summer season touches 3,400-3,600MW and drops to 2,400MW during winters.

Moreover, sources said that the demand for power across the state (including Mumbai) was an average 15,000MW in March-end and in April and May last year. This gradually increased to 18,000MW in June, and later averaged between 20,000MW and 21,000MW between July and December. In January, the demand peaked to 22,000MW and has now touched 23,000MW in February, the sources stated.

Worried about the rising demand for electricity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Raut had last year visited Tata Power thermal plants in Trombay and the Adani Electricity office to evaluate the existing power generation and the future demand. Sources said that Mumbai`s demand could rise to 3,500MW, and MMR’s to 5,000MW.

Meanwhile, India's peak power demand met or the highest supply in a day has remained higher in the first week of February and surpassed the record high supply of 176.38 GW for February last year, indicating robust growth in electricity consumption in the country.

According to the power ministry data, peak power demand met was recorded at 187.71GW on February 1, 188.15 GW on February 2; 188.11 GW on February 3; 183.81GW on February 4 and 184.34GW on February 5.

The peak power demand met in this month so far is higher than the monthly record power demand met of 176.38GW for February 2020.

Experts opined that the data clearly indicates all likelihood of high electricity consumption growth in the month of February this year.

The Metro Rail projects are also coming up in the city and this could consume 280MW of additional electricity when it begins full-scale operations. The MMRDA is constructing 12 metro rail lines in Mumbai and the MMR. The only underground Metro-3 is being built by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation. Covering 336km, these lines will expectedly consume more energy when ready.