As cold wave conditions gripped north India, the peak power demand in Delhi on Tuesday late morning hit 5,213 megawatts (MW), which is for the first time that peak demand surpassed 5,000 MW during December.

Peak power demand in the national capital territory (NCT) on Monday clocked 5,046 MW. Previously, Delhi’s peak power demand during December stood at 4,884 MW in 2023 and 4,964 MW during 2022.

Delhi Discoms—BSES Rajdhani Power (BRPL), BSES Yamuna Power (BYPL) and Tata Power Delhi Distribution (Tata Power-DDL)—registered high power demand in their respective areas on Tuesday, the last day of 2024 calendar year.

While, BRPL and BYPL successfully met this season’s highest peak winter power demand of 2,194 MW and 1,038 MW, Tata Power DDL met a demand of 1,646 MW.

Freezing January

According to sources in the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC), January temperatures are expected to be low with coal wave conditions, which will lead to more demand for heating in the national capital.

Peak power demand this winter could surpass 6,300 MW, setting a new seasonal high. Last winter, the peak hit was 5,816 MW.

Power consumption in Delhi has already been on an upward trajectory with expectations that the winter months are likely to follow the record-breaking summer’s trend in peak demand. During summers, it hit an unprecedented peak power demand of 8,656 MW.

On January 1, 2024, Delhi clocked a peak power demand of 5,134 MW in the late morning, which is the highest for the day since 2021.

Discoms prepared

BSES has secured over 2,000 MW of renewable energy. This green power mix includes 840 MW of solar power, 546 MW of hydro power, 500 MW of wind energy, 40 MW of waste-to-energy, and over 180 MW from rooftop solar installations across Delhi’s neighborhoods, a BSES official said.

To ensure consistent power availability, BSES Discoms are leveraging mechanisms like “Banking,” “Power Exchange,” and maintaining “Spinning Reserves.” If demand unexpectedly spikes, BSES is prepared to secure short-term power from the exchange. Advanced load forecasting will also enhance reliability by ensuring demand is predicted with precision, he added.

A Tata Power DDL spokesperson said the Discom has made adequate arrangements for the winter season by strengthening its power network and conducting preventive maintenance and condition-based maintenance of all critical electrical installations.

Additional staff has been deployed at key locations across the distribution network and call centre staff has been alerted to provide faster resolution of complaints through coordination with ground staff, the official added.

BRPL and BYPL supply power to around 50 lakh consumers and roughly 2 crore residents in South, West, East and Central Delhi, whereas Tata Power DDL supplies electricity in North Delhi to around 19 lakh consumers and 70 lakh residents.