Power managers have embarked on an exercise to map energy consumption patterns across the State, which is giving them the nuanced understanding needed for deciding on infrastructure requirements. For instance, their mapping, based on data from the State Load Despatch Centres (SLDCs), has shown that only the area covering Chennai district and parts of Kancheepuram district saw an overall load increase of 100 MW in the last one year. In the rest of the State, there was little change. Further, at 2,100 MW, Chennai North was the most intense power consuming region in the State.
The State’s power demand stands at around 13,200 MW per day covering 42 circles. Chennai city alone accounts for nearly one-fourth of this. While the State electricity demand varies between 13,000 MW and 14,000 MW per day, the daily consumption is in the range of 275 million units (MUs) to 310 MUs.
The electricity official said the consumption mapping serves as a ready reckoner and also help focus on the regions whose power demand could be on the rise for planning transmission and distribution infrastructure works.
Air-conditioning up
Power managers attribute the increase in electricity demand in the city to a rise in the number of air conditioners being used by residents.
This year, the city has been experiencing an unusually long hot spell that has extended through July. Evening showers have sometimes helped to bring down the temperatures. As a result, people have been cranking up the air-conditioners for longer, the official added.
Chennai has the maximum number of air conditioners in operation in the State, particularly in the domestic sector.
The break-up of the nine distribution regions shows that Chennai, combined with Chennai South and North regions, consumes 3,500 MW, Coimbatore 2,000 MW, Erode 1,600 MW, Vellore 1,400 MW, Tiruchi 1,400 MW, Tirunelveli 1,170 MW, Madurai 1,150 MW and Villupuram 980 MW.
The electricity official said the highest demand of 15,343 MW registered on April 29 last year is yet to be touched this year.
Chennai city is the only region that has seen a jump of more than 100 MW.
The SLDCs, which keep track of the entire grid operation in the State, are located in Chennai, Madurai and Erode.