Power demand reaches peak in February, March

Mumbai: The state has registered the highest demand for electricity as the temperature has increased in the past few days. The usual demand during the months of February and March is between 16,000 mw and 17,000 mw but on March 1, the demand went up to 18,570 mw. On February 28, it was even higher at 18,680 mw.

The Maharashtra state electricity distribution company (MAHADISCOM) has attributed the growth in power demand to temperature rise and also more use of agricultural pumps due to good rainfall last year. The MAHADISCOM has also claimed that there was no load shedding being conducted anywhere in the state, as the power is available to meet the growing demand. The demand for Mumbai is about 2,981 mw, which is not changed much.

According to the data sought by the MAHADISCOM, on February 27, the state recorded electricity demand of 18,225 mw in morning and 15,990 mw in the evening. On February 28, the demand that was recorded in the morning stood at 18,680 mw and 16,334 mw in the evening. On March 1, the morning demand was 18,570 mw and evening demand was 16,397 mw.  

“This the highest power demand so far we have been able to meet.  There are two reasons. One, of course, is the temperature having suddenly gone up and people consuming more power for fans, air conditioners and coolers. Another reason is greater consumption by agriculture pumps. The government had given more than eight lakh new electricity connections for agriculture pumps in past one year,” an official said.