Power consumption grows 9.5% to 1,503 billion units in 2022-23

The power ministry has estimated peak power demand to touch 229 GW this summer

Rise in economic activities in 2022-23 has witnessed higher demand for electricity in the country, says Central Electricity Authority (CEA) latest data.

Power consumption grew 9.5 per cent to 1,503.65 billion units year-on-year in 2022-23. In the previous fiscal, it was 1,374.02 billion units (BU) in 2021-22.

The peak power demand or highest supply in a day also rose to 207.23 GW in the last fiscal, higher than 200.53 GW in 2021-22.

In the current fiscal, the power demand is expected to grow further as the peak power demand may touch 229 GW this summer.

Anticipating higher demand, the Power Ministry has already issued instructions to imported coal-based plants to run at full capacity. Besides, the government has directed domestic coal-based plants to import coal for blending to meet the unprecedented demand for electricity this summer.

Last month, several northern states received widespread rain, which has resulted in a reduction in power demand. Power consumption in March 2023 dipped to 126.21 BU from 128.47 BU in the year-ago period.

Power consumption from April 2022 to February 2023 surpassed the 2021-22 level. Power consumption from April 2022 to February 2023 stood at 1,377.43 BU, higher than the 1,374.02 BU recorded in the entire 2021-22 fiscal, says data.