Chandigarh power consumption in first quarter up over 13%

Dushyant Singh Pundir

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 22

The demand for power supply increased by over 13 per cent at the onset of the summer season this year.

Power consumption in UT

April-June 2021 400 MU

April-June 2020 352MU

April 2020-March 2021 1,523 MU

April 2019-March 2020 1,732 MU

April 2018-March 2019 1,571 MU

April 2017-March 2018 1,601 MU

April 2016-March 2017 1,645 MU

April 2015-March 2016 1,607 MU

In reply a question in the Lok Sabha today, RK Singh, Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy, stated that the peak power demand in the country during the financial year 2020-21 had increased by 3.5 per cent as compared to the previous financial year i.e. 2019-20.

The lockdown in the country had led to a decline in the peak demand. However, as the lockdown norms were gradually relaxed, the peak demand of the country started growing.

The Minister said in Chandigarh, the demand of 352 million units (MU) of electricity was recorded from April to June 2020. This, however, increased to 400 MU during the same period this year.

A senior official of the UT Electricity Department said the demand for electricity had reached its peak at 426 MW on July 8.

With a focus on privatisation, the UT Engineering Department has not purchased new equipment for improving the quality of power supply in the city.

It is worth mentioning that at present, there are 2.47 lakh electricity consumers in the city. Of these, 2.14 lakh people are using domestic connections, while others have commercial, small power, public lighting and agriculture connections.