Delhi Heatwave: Power demand hits season’s high of 5,462 MW

Delhi’s power demand spiked to 5,462 megawatts (MW) at 3:27 PM on Wednesday, marking the highest peak so far this year, according to data from the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC). The surge comes a day after the capital recorded a peak of 5,029 MW.

Power Minister Ashish Sood said the city’s electricity consumption could soar to 9,000 MW this summer. “To ensure reliability, we’ve requested the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to review all power purchase agreements and enhance procurement efficiency,” he said.

Sood also noted the establishment of a joint control room with Delhi Transco Limited and discoms to facilitate real-time load monitoring and protect critical infrastructure.

Power distributor BSES affirmed its preparedness to meet the growing demand, assuring uninterrupted electricity supply to nearly two crore residents. The company has secured 2,100 MW of green energy—888 MW from solar plants, 546 MW from hydro sources, 500 MW from wind, and 40 MW from waste-to-energy facilities. Additionally, 197 MW will be sourced from rooftop solar panels installed by consumers within its network.

To manage the soaring demand, BSES has entered into long-term power purchase agreements and plans to draw up to 500 MW through power banking arrangements. The company is also using advanced forecasting tools, including AI, machine learning, and weather data from IMD and POSOCO, to accurately predict electricity requirements.

Also Read: Delhi braces for record 9000 MW power demand this summer

Delhi’s power demand has seen a sharp rise over the years. It crossed the 8,000 MW mark for the first time in 2023, hitting an all-time high of 8,656 MW in 2024. This marks a significant leap from 2002, when the peak demand stood at 2,879 MW.

(With inputs from PTI)