New Delhi [India], April 9— As temperatures continue to soar in the national capital, Delhi’s power demand surged to 5090 megawatts (MW) at 12:31 PM on Wednesday — the highest so far this season, officials reported. The power load is expected to rise further as the day progresses.
On Tuesday, the city had already recorded a high demand of 5029 MW at 3:30 PM. This upward trend is attributed to increased use of cooling appliances like air conditioners and coolers due to rising temperatures.
Delhi witnessed its all-time peak power demand of 8656 MW in June 2024. This summer, the demand is projected to break that record and may reach 9000 MW, according to the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC).
Adding to the power surge, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted a significant spike in temperatures. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 25.6°C today — 5.6°C above normal. Maximum temperatures across the region range between 39°C and 41°C, also several degrees above the seasonal average.
“Heat wave conditions occurred at a few places and warm night conditions prevailed at most locations in Delhi,” IMD said. The city experienced mainly clear skies and south-easterly winds at speeds of up to 8 kmph over the last 24 hours.
With rising power needs, distribution companies are ramping up preparations to ensure uninterrupted electricity to over 50 lakh consumers and nearly 2 crore residents in South, West, East, and Central Delhi. BSES discoms — BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) — are implementing multiple strategies.
These include power banking arrangements with other states, the use of AI and Machine Learning for load forecasting, and increasing reliance on green energy sources to reduce stress on the grid.
In BRPL’s jurisdiction (South and West Delhi), demand is expected to peak at 4050 MW this season, up from last year’s 3809 MW.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as Delhi braces for a long and hot summer, with electricity demand likely to break records in the coming weeks.