CEB managed power distribution well despite spike in demand : Minister

The highest ever demand for power (2453 MWS) was recorded on last Monday (25) while the second highest demand occurred on April 5 (2394 MWS). The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was able to meet the demand without any difficulty despite the relatively low hydro power generation, which was due to the prevailing draught, Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said yesterday. Minister pointed out that the extreme heat experienced in almost all parts of the country had

On average, the highest daily demand for power is around 2,200 MWS at the peak time between 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm. The CEB has the capacity to generate around 3,200 MWS per day from hydro, thermal, coal, solar and wind power.

compelled consumers to use fans, coolers and air conditioners excessively and the CEB had generated 42.35 GWHS to supplement the increased power consumption during this period.

“On average, the highest daily demand for power is around 2,200 MWS at the peak time between 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm. The CEB has the capacity to generate around 3,200 MWS per day from hydro, thermal, coal, solar and wind power. The highest demand being recorded on these two days was a new experience for us and I am glad that the CEB was able to meet the increased demand without much hassle. We expect to use this experience when we plan our generation, transmission and distribution plans,” Minister Siyambalapitiya said.

Minister Siyambalapitiya said annual increase in demand for electricity was about 10% and as such the 9.91% increase in demand for power, which had been recorded in January and February this year had seen the demand for power increase by 13.5% over the corresponding period in 2015. The increase in demand in March 2016 in comparison to March 2015 was 9.88%. The low rainfall and increased humidity was to blame for this situation. The rainfall in February 2016 had dropped by 51 mm over the rainfall figures in January 2015. The situation had been further aggravated with the drop in rainfall figures by 233 mm in March and by 171 mm as of last Monday (25) in April this year. The rainfall figures had dropped by 65% in the first three months of this year to 237 mm as opposed to 692 mm in 2015.