Power demand hits all-time high 873MW, raises outages concerns

Nagpur: The electricity demand in the city surged to an all-time high of 873MW on April 27, mounting pressure on the already strained power distribution network amid the heatwave. As intensity of summer usually picks up in May, the power demand spike has raised concerns over more frequent outages in the coming weeks.Officials from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) said around 20% rise is expected every year, but the current demand is unprecedented. The peak demand last year was 753MW recorded in May. To put things in perspective, the city's average power demand in winter is around 500MW. "The demand has crossed 800MW multiple times this season, putting immense pressure on the system," a senior official told TOI. Data from the past few days shows that the city recorded power demand of 853MW on April 25 and 816MW on April 26. As per the official, the peak demand window is between 6pm and 9pm.The rising load has already begun to show its impact, with several parts of the city witnessing frequent tripping and short-duration outages. In many areas, residents have reported prolonged power cuts, adding to the discomfort during extreme heat. TOI has regularly reported about the power outages.Despite earlier assurances by MSEDCL that tripping incidents would reduce after May 1, citizens remain sceptical. "If this is the situation now, it's worrying to even think what will happen during peak summer next month," said Shishir Kalbande, a resident from Manewada.Amid mounting concerns, MSEDCL has urged citizens to use electricity cautiously, particularly during peak hours between 6am and 9am and 6pm and 9pm, to ease the load on the system.The issue has also drawn political attention. Chandrashekhar Bawankule, state revenue minister and former energy minister, recently crticicised MSEDCL for failing to manage the increased load despite surplus power in the state. He also flagged concerns over persistent outages affecting consumers.