Delhi Discoms gear up for summers as peak power demand likely to hit record 8,200 MW
Power distribution companies (Discoms) in Delhi are gearing up for summer as the peak power demand in the National Capital Territory (NCT) is projected to hit a record 8,0008,200 megawatts (MW). Delhi’s peak power demand hit an alltime high 7,695 MW in 2022 but declined to 7,438 MW a year later. In 2024, it is anticipated to go up to 8,200 MW during JuneJuly. It will be for the first time that demand will hit 8,000 MW.
Discoms supplying electricity to Delhi — Tata Power Delhi Distribution (Tata PowerDDL), BSES Rajdhani Power (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power (BYPL) have made arrangements to meet the rising demand. Tata Power DDL supplies electricity in
North Delhi to around 19 lakh consumers and 70 lakh residents, while BSES supplies power to around 50 lakh consumers and about 2 crore residents in South, West, East and Central Delhi.
Power consumption in Delhi, like the rest of the country, has been inching up aided by growing consumption. On January 19, Delhi’s peak power demand during winter hit an alltime high of 5,798 MW.
TATA POWER DDL
Tata PowerDDL CEO Ganesh Srinivasan said, “As we approach the summer season, we anticipate peak demand to reach approximately 2,351 MW within our jurisdiction and we are wellprepared to meet this demand.”
The Discoms has optimised load balancing at substations and deployed additional manpower, mobile transformers and Quick Reaction Teams to address emergencies, he added. It has also made arrangements for up to 2,500 MW, apart from contingency planning, through longterm, mediumterm and shortterm tieups. Last year, its peak demand had hit 2,182 MW. Besides, it Battery Energy Storage Systems at Rohini and Rani Bagh will also support in providing continuous and reliable power to key customers during any exigency in summer.
To meet with eventualities, mobile distribution transformers have been deployed for breakdown and are evenly stationed in the entire distribution network. Additional staff has been recruited at the call centres. Dedicated roundtheclock teams to attend breakdown and supply restoration for subtransmission systems have also been created.
A BSES spokesperson said that the Discom has made arrangements including longterm power purchase agreements (PPAs) and banking arrangements with other States. It has also made power banking arrangements with States, from where the Discoms will get up to 670 MW.
Around 2,100 MW of green power will play an important role in ensuring electricity during summers in BSES areas, which includes around 888 MW solar power, 500 MW wind power and 40 MW from Wasteto Energy. More than 160 MW of rooftop solar power installed on rooftops will also be utilised. Besides, BRPL will also procure up to 500 MW through bilateral contracts.
Peak demand in BRPL’s area of South and West Delhi had clocked 3,250 MW and 3,389 MW during the summers of 2023 and 2022, respectively. It is expected to reach around 3,679 MW during the summers in 2024.