CHENNAI: In the peak of summer in Tamil Nadu, the power demand and consumption has been scaling dizzying heights every day. On Tuesday, the power consumption in the state breached the 470 million unit (MU) mark for the first time, while peak power demand reached 21,211 megawatts (MW).This is the fifth time Tamil Nadu’s peak power demand has crossed the 21,000 MW mark, but TNPDCL officials said that there were not any interruptions in power supply across the state due to the surge in power demand. “We made elaborate plans and signed power purchase agreements as the Central Electricity Authority forecast the power demand to cross 21,000 MW this summer,” said a TNPDCL official.Increased use of air conditioners during the night hours and the ongoing IPL season are said to drive the demand for electricity up in the state. “The demand forecast is calculated on an hourly basis by a dedicated team and orders are placed in the open market to purchase electricity to meet the shortage, if any. The pumped storage systems like Kadamparai and Kundah also come in handy to meet the power demand during non-solar hours,” said the official.Of the 470.674 MU consumed on Tuesday, 84.77 MU, nearly 20%, was met through short-term power purchase agreements and from the open market, while 84 MU was captive generation from thermal, hydro and gas plants owned and managed by TN Power Generation Corporation. About 25% of the electricity requirements (118.82 MU) was met from the share from central generating stations. Solar and wind power together contributed 57 MU.However, officials anticipate a dip in the power demand in the coming days as IMD forecast heavy rainfall in the western region.
