Power demand highest in 60 yrs
The electricity board is confident of supply more power as and when required.
Mumbai: With rising mercury levels in Maharashtra, the state’s energy demand reached to 19,330 mega watts on Tuesday, the highest in last 60 years. The Maharashtra state electricity distribution company limited (MAHADISCOM) managed to meet the demand by making available the desired power supply. The electricity board is confident of supply more power as and when required. The maximum demand was for the agricultural sector.
Officials from MAHADISCOM have claimed that there hasn’t been a single power cut. “The demand from agriculture sector was about 25-30 per cent, industrial and commercial was 30-40 per cent and rest the was residential. There was no load shedding conducted while supplying 19,330 mw power,” said an official.
The surge in power demand was due to rise in temperatures, the official said. “The temperature is rising so subsequently the demand. The more use of agricultural pumps was due to good rainfall last year. Also, the residential and commercial consumers are using more fans, air conditions,” the official explained.
The state had registered higher demand in the last days of February 18,680 mw when the normal demand during that time was between 16,000 mw to 17,000 mw. Meanwhile, speaking about the state’s energy scenario, state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule said in the house that the agriculture connections’ outstanding bill are Rs 17,000 crore.