Peak Demand Falls Short of Projections
The peak power demand met in March registered a slight uptick to 238.37 GW, a marginal rise from February's 235.22 GW. However, this figure remains considerably below the all-time high of approximately 250 GW recorded in May 2024. Last summer, the peak power demand in June reached 242.77 GW, falling short of the government's 277 GW estimate. For the current summer season, the power ministry has projected a peak demand of around 270 GW.
Weather and April Demand Outlook
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that March experienced more western disturbances than usual, leading to reduced maximum temperatures nationwide. Consequently, heatwave conditions were largely absent in the latter half of the month. Experts forecast that this trend of subdued growth in power consumption and demand may persist into April, as the onset of summer continues to be delayed by anticipated rainfall.
The IMD predicts normal to below-normal maximum temperatures across many parts of India in April, with exceptions in some eastern, northeastern, and northwestern regions. Above-normal minimum temperatures are likely for most of the country. Rainfall is also expected to be normal to above-normal in most areas, further moderating temperature-driven electricity demand.