New Delhi: India's power consumption grew by 1.64 percent to 114.64 billion units (BU) in October compared to the year-ago period, according to government data. The power consumption rose only marginally in October, mainly due to incessant unseasonal rains which kept the mercury levels low and reduced the use of cooling appliances. Last year, power consumption was 112.79 BU in 2021, higher than 109.17 BU in the same month of 2020, the data from the power ministry showed.
The peak power demand in October rose to 186.90 GW. The peak power supply stood at 174.44 GW in October 2021 and 169.89 GW in October 2020.
The peak power demand met was 164.25 GW in October 2019, which was the pre-pandemic period. Electricity consumption in October 2019 stood at 97.84 BU.
However, experts said power consumption and demand will further increase in the coming months due to the use of heating appliances especially in the northern part of the country, and improvement in economic activities on account of the beginning of the new Rabi crop season.
Farmers use electricity to run tubewells for irrigation for new crops, said experts.
Experts opined that the marginal growth in power consumption in October does not point to slow recovery in the economy as it has happened just because of unseasonal rains which affected the demand for electricity temporarily.
They also opined that power consumption, as well as demand, would see high growth in the coming months in view of improvement in industrial and commercial activities across the country.
(With PTI inputs)
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