A day after Tamil Nadu breached 19,000 mega watt (MW) electricity demand, Chennai touched a record 3,700 MW electricity demand on Thursday. The last time Chennai recorded the highest peak of 3,723 MW electricity demand was in June last year.
According to The Hindu, the record power demand has surprised the power managers since Chennai usually reaches the peak demand only after the peak summer. Usually, the state would be recording a power demand of less than 3,500 MW during April. The city will record a peak demand by the end of May or the first week of June after Agni Narchathiram.
Taking to Twitter, TN Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji said, "Another achievement. For the first time in the history of Tamil Nadu, yesterday 19/04/2023 the maximum power consumption in Tamil Nadu was 41.82 crore units. This requirement was met without any power outage."
On Tuesday, Rajesh Lakhani, ACS, Chairman and MD, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, said, "The increase in power demand this year is the highest in last 10 years. The peak is yet to be reached. This year TN power demand may touch 19000 MW."
In 2012, the state had a maximum daily consumption requirement of 249.13 MU as against the requirement of 413.49 MU consumption in 2023 till Tuesday.
A report on Times of India said that there is a high electricity demand since a three-phase supply is provided for agriculture due to the availability of solar power and there is also a prolonged demand due to air conditioner usage. As a result, the power managers expect that the power demand would increase in the coming days.