Energy demand, peak load reaches new highs as temperatures rise

HYDERABAD

Increase in the demand for energy from agriculture, domestic and commercial categories of consumers due to the rising temperatures coupled with fears of gas and fuel shortage have pushed both energy use and peak load of power to new highs with the highest-ever energy consumption (344.4 MU) and load (18,228 MW) recorded on March 13.

According to the authorities of the power utilities, the energy use includes consumption for the reversible pumping generation by the TG-Genco. Excluding it, the consumption was 341.08 million units. The peak load on the transmission system had crossed 18,000 megawatt mark thrice already this month and it clocked beyond the last year’s highest of 17,162 MW on 10 other days this month including on Saturday (March 14).

With the rise in demand, the TG-Genco is also making use of its generation facilities to the optimum level with the record own generation of 121.77 MU recorded on March 14, 121.66 MU on March 13 and 121.48 MU on March 12. A senior engineer of the TG-Genco stated that it was possible mainly due to the availability of three units of 800 MW each at the 5×800 MW Yadadri Thermal Power Station (YTPS) in Nalgonda district.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who handles the portfolios of Energy and Finance too, termed the all-time record in energy consumption of peak load on the transmission system as ‘historic’ and said the State was prepared for meeting any demand. He stated that the highest-ever peak load of 18,228 MW was clocked at 11.17 am on March 13 and said the utilities were ready to handle peak load up to 19,000 MW and energy use up to 350 MU.

The demand for energy is pulled mainly by the farm, domestic and commercial sectors with the total extent of cultivation of Rabi season crops crossing 79.34 lakh acres so far, second highest ever with last Rabi recording over 80.05 lakh acres.

Similarly the cultivation of paddy, the most water-intensive crop and which depends on borewells for intermittent wettings even under the canal systems, reached 58.7 lakh acres against the highest-ever of 59.92 lakh acres recorded during the last Rabi (2024-25). Maize is raised in over 11.7 lakh acres this Rabi season.

Increase in consumption for EV charging for the last few days has also pushed the demand.