Electricity consumption inching closer to 400 million units in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Electricity consumption in Tamil Nadu is inching closer to 400 million units as energy consumption on Wednesday was 399.219 MU.
On Tuesday, electricity minister informed the assembly that electricity consumed by the state on Monday was 397.78 million units and the demand was met without any interruptions in the power supply.
Even as Tangedco's policy note for 2023-24 said the maximum electricity demand would range between 18,000 and 18,500 MW, the maximum demand recorded on Wednesday was 18,667 MW.
It may be noted that last year's maximum demand was 17,563 MW and highest electricity consumption per day was 388.8 MU. While both were reported on April 29 in 2022, the maximum demand surpassed the last year's peak in March itself. On Monday, the maximum energy consumed the last year's maximum.
Even as the maximum demand was reported around 11am, a Tangedco official said that the evening peak has also gone up by 200 MW as Wednesday's even peak 17,704 MW compared to the last year's peak.
The spike in the demand and consumption is attributed to various factors such as increased air conditioner's usage, the ongoing cricket league as well as the three-phased supply to agri connections.
Tangedco officials said the demand was met with the help of solar power generation, short term power purchase and also purchase of power from the exchange in emergency situations.