Delhi’s peak power demand hits new high at 6,651 MW

The Capital’s peak power demand hit an all-time high of 6,651 MW on Friday at 3.36 p.m. Last year, the peak power demand was recorded at 6,526 MW on June 6.

Power discom BSES said in a statement that peak power demand has already crossed 6,000 MW eight times this year. In 2017 and 2016, power demand had crossed the 6,000 MW mark only twice in the first five months of the year.

The statement added that peak power demand during the summers months of 2018 may breach the 7,000 MW mark.

This year, the Capital has seen prolonged spells of above normal temperatures thus putting more pressure on the power grid.

Maximum temperatures have stayed several notches above 40 degrees Celsius consistently for the past few weeks. The Meteorological Department said that several parts of the city have been experiencing heatwave-like conditions.

Evening dust storm

However, a late evening dust storm did bring some relief from the heat on Friday.

Winds up to 40 kmph hit the Capital around 8 p.m.

The dust storm brought the maximum temperature down from 42 degrees Celsius at 8.30 p.m. to 35 degree Celsius at 9 p.m.

The weatherman has forecast another dust storm in the city on Saturday.

The discom said that despite the power demand crossing the 6,600 MW mark, it has been able to cope with the load.

It added that this shows the robustness of the Capital’s distribution and transmission system.

Peak power demand in BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) areas of south and west Delhi had reached 2,745 MW during the summers of 2017. Power demand in the areas is expected to cross 2,880 MW this year.

In BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) areas of east and central Delhi, the peak power demand had reached 1,469 MW last year. It is expected to touch around 1,670 MW this year,” read the BSES statement.

Humid day

On Friday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 42 degrees Celsius, a notch above normal, while the minimum was 30 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal. Maximum humidity was recorded at 72%, which made the day extremely uncomfortable.

Palam was the hottest area in the Capital with the maximum temperature of 43.7 degrees Celsius.

The Met department has forecast partly cloudy on Saturday with the temperatures likely to hover between 43 and 29 degrees Celsius.

No rain likely till June 7

Rain is not likely to arrive before June 7, “when the sky may become generally cloudy with the possibility of thundery development”, said the weatherman.