With a severe heat wave sweeping large parts of India, demand for electricity in the country has risen to record levels, prompting the government to urge citizens to “use electricity wisely and judiciously” amid rising temperatures and increased reliance on cooling devices.
Daytime power demand in India reached an all-time high of 270.82 GW on May 21, with the power ministry saying electricity consumption broke previous records for four consecutive days due to extreme summer conditions, according to news agency ANI.
Read also | Warmest night in 14 years, power demand hits 9,000 MW: How Delhi’s summer is already breaking records
Use electricity wisely and judiciously: Ministry
The ministry said in a post on the X website that rising temperatures and prolonged heat waves have led to a sharp increase in electricity consumption, especially during daylight hours when demand for cooling remains at its peak.
The ministry said: “Due to the severe heat wave the country is witnessing, the demand for electricity is also increasing.”
According to the ministry, peak daytime electricity demand reached 257.37 GW on May 18, rose to 260.45 GW on May 19, 265.44 GW on May 20, and then rose to 270.82 GW on May 21 – the highest level recorded so far.
The ministry said peak demand during the day usually occurs between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., when temperatures remain at their highest and the use of cooling devices such as air conditioners, coolers and fans rises sharply.
The significant rise in energy demand comes as many parts of the country continue to suffer from harsh summer conditions and prolonged heat waves, which increases pressure on electricity supply systems and grid management.
Despite the sharp rise in demand, the ministry said the power supply situation remains under control and appropriate arrangements have been made to meet electricity requirements across the country.
The ministry stressed that “although we are ready to supply electricity to the required extent, due to the summer heat, let us all try to use electricity wisely and judiciously.”
Read also | 97 of the 100 hottest cities in the world are in India as a brutal heatwave pushes temperatures past 45 degrees Celsius
The government monitors electricity demand
The government closely monitors electricity demand and generation trends during the summer season, as rising temperatures typically lead to an increase in energy consumption in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
The warning comes as 97 of the 100 hottest cities in the world were hot on Friday afternoon in India, where a brutal heatwave tightened its grip on the northern, central and eastern parts of the country and pushed temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius by noon.
According to AQI.in, Indian cities overwhelmingly dominated the global top 100 list at 2:50 PM IST, with Balangir in Odisha emerging as the hottest location at 48 degrees Celsius.
It was followed by Sasaram in Bihar at 48 degrees Celsius and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh at 47 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels in many cities ranged between 6 and 8 percent, putting conditions in the “extremely hot” category.
Meanwhile, more than 300 suspected cases of heat-related illness were reported in Andhra Pradesh between early March and mid-May, according to the state health department, Reuters reported.
The state recorded 325 suspected cases of heat stroke between March 1 and May 19, about a third of which have been reported since the beginning of May.
(Inputs from ANI and Reuters)
