Long periods of power outages have added to people’s misery in the sweltering heat that has swept all across the country.
India is experiencing its worst electricity shortage in more than six years, with demand reaching new highs due to the early arrival of summer.
In the first 27 days of April, power supply fell 1.88 billion units, or 1.6 percent, short of demand. This is the worst monthly deficit in more than six years.
From Jammu and Kashmir to Andhra Pradesh, people are experiencing power outages that last anywhere from 2 to 8 hours.
The industrial sector is the first port of call for restricting electricity supplies, thus factories have been struck the most.
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Rajasthan, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat are experiencing the worst power outages in almost six years.
The country was also hit by a major power outage in October of last year. This time, though, the problem is significantly more widespread, with more than half of states seeing increased power outages.
The country’s peak power consumption reached an all-time high of 2,07,111 MW at 2.50 p.m. on Friday, according to the ministry of power.
As of April 21, the coal stock position was fewer than the regulation requirement of 66.32 MT, according to a Nomura study.
According to sources, coal inventories fell to their lowest level since 2014 at the start of the financial year, to nine days, compared to the Centre’s minimum 24 days.
According to the CEA’s daily coal report, coal stock is critical in 81 of the 150 government-owned power facilities.
Why is India facing an electricity crisis?
India is in the midst of an electricity crisis, as coal reserves in several states are rapidly depleting in the face of rising demand.
The increase in demand has been exacerbated by early summer heatwaves in several parts of the country.
India’s power demand has risen from 106.6 billion units (BU) in 2019 to 124.2 BU in 2021 and 132 BU in 2022.
Blackouts are occurring in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh due to a lack of coal supplies at thermal power plants. The problem is now likely to impact the nation’s capital, Delhi, with the administration already warning that the outage could affect the metro and hospitals.
