Power Surge: Chennais Demand Peaks at Record-Breaking 4,648 MW!
Chennai grappled with yet another surge in its peak power demand and daily energy consumption amidst an intense heatwave. On Thursday, the city saw its peak demand soar to 4648 MW, eclipsing the previous record set on May 6 at 4590 MW. Concurrently, daily energy consumption surged to a new high of 98.44 million units, surpassing the prior record of 97.53 MU registered on May 29.
The scorching temperatures, persisting above 40 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days, drove this heightened demand for electricity, resulting in reports of power cuts and voltage fluctuations in various localities, notably Avadi. Residents of TNHB staged protests outside the TANGEDCO office on Thursday night in response to these disruptions.
A senior official from TANGEDCO pointed to the widespread use of air conditioners in both residential and commercial properties as the primary driver behind the surge in power demand. They emphasized, "AC usage is a major contributor to the power demand surge. As temperatures climb, people increasingly rely on ACs to combat the oppressive heat."
Statewide, peak power demand reached 19,299 MW on Thursday, accompanied by energy consumption touching 420 million units. The state`s previous peak power demand was recorded at 20,840 MW on May 2, while the highest energy consumption was noted at 454.320 MU on April 30.
