News Detail

Peak power deficit in the country fell to 5.4 Percent at 7,556 megawatts (MW) in April from 7.4 Percent a year ago due to increased capacity and lower electricity consumption by states. The decline in consumption in certain north Indian states was due to a weak intra-state network for dissemination of electricity. According to the latest data by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the total requirement in the country last month was 1,40,998 MW, as against the supply of 1,33,442 MW- a peak power deficit of 5.4 Percent.

The peak power deficit-shortfall in supply of power when the demand is maximum-was 7.4 Percent or 9,720 MW in April 2013. The electricity shortage last month in the northern region comprising Uttar Pradesh (UP), Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir was 7.4 Percent. The demand was 41,222 MW, of which 38,163 MW was met.

“The sub-transmission and distribution network within Haryana and Uttar Pradesh is not adequate due to which they cannot absorb more power, thereby leading to load shedding in most parts of the state,” a CEA official said.

“Another reason for lesser absorption of power in UP is non-realisation of money from the end consumer, which has also impacted the state discom’s financial health,” he added.

The deficit in the northern region was 5.1 Percent in April last year. Western region states including Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra reported a power deficit of 2.1 Percent or 853 MW in April 2014, as against 1.4 Percent or 531 MW in April 2013. However, the remaining states of the country reported substantial decrease in peak electricity shortage.

Southern region states-Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Lakshadweep-reported a drop in April’s peak power deficit at 8.2 Percent or 3,252 MW from 16.7 Percent or 6,508 MW a year ago.

The electricity requirement in eastern states including West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand in April this year was 16,327 MW as against a supply of 16,087 MW, leaving a shortfall of 1.5 Percent. It was 3.8 Percent in April 2013.

There was an improvement in the peak power shortage in the seven sister states of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram in the northeastern region from 9.5 Percent in April last year, to 6.9 Percent this time. Electricity demand in the region last month was 2,197 MW and supply was 2,045 MW. CEA is a government body tasked with facilitating the overall development of the sector.

Source-On Request