Power Consumption Grows 7.8% in First Half of November

In the first half of November this year, India’s power consumption increased 7.8% to 50.15 billion units (BU), indicating an improvement in economic activity, according to government data. According to data from the power ministry, power consumption in the country was registered at 46.52 BU between November 1-15 last year.

Power consumption amounted to 93.94 BU in November last year. Thus, the extrapolation of half-month data clearly indicates that for the third month in a row, energy consumption will witness year-on-year increase.

Power consumption increased by 4.4% in September this year to 112.24 BU after a period of six months, compared to 107.51 BU in the same month last year. In October of this year, India’s power consumption increased by almost 12% to 109.53 billion units (BU), compared to 97.84 BU in the same month last year.

In the first half of this month, the increase in power consumption indicates that there is a continuous improvement in commercial and industrial demand due to the softening of lockdown restrictions, experts said. On March 25, the government enforced a nationwide lockdown to control the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result of fewer economic activities in the region, power consumption began to decline from March onwards.

For six months in a row, the COVID-19 situation impacted power consumption — from March to August 2020. On a year-on-year basis, power usage decreased by 8.7% in March, 23.2% in April, 14.9% in May, 10.9% in June, 3.7% in July and 1.7% in August.

The data showed that electricity demand in February had increased by 11.73%. The post-lockdown easing of economic activities after April 20 has shown an increase. the maximum power supply in the country in a day, was observed at 160.77 GW in the first half of November (on November 3, 2020), 5.2% higher than 152.77 GW on November 6, 2019.

In the month of November last year, the peak power demand was 155.32GW. At 170.04 GW, 3.52% higher than 164.25 GW in the same month last year the peak power demand met in October was reported.