Power consumption grew closely 17% in the first fortnight of July to 59.36 billion units (BU) and returned to pre-pandemic level mainly due to easing of lockdown curbs and delayed monsoon, according to power ministry data.
Power usage during July 1-14 last year was 50.79 BU.
Power consumption was recorded at 52.89 BU in the first fortnight of July in 2019. Therefore, consumption of power has not only grown year-on-year but also returned to pre-pandemic level.
In July 2020, power consumption improved to 112.14 BU, but remained lower than 116.48 BU in the same month of 2019 (pre-pandemic level).
Experts say recovery in power demand and consumption in the first fortnight of July is mostly due to delayed monsoon and surge in economic activities amid easing of lockdown restrictions by states.
They said power demand and consumption returned to pre-COVID levels in the first fortnight of July and recovery would be robust in coming days.
The commercial and industrial power demand as well as consumption got affected April onwards this year due to lockdown restrictions imposed by states.
Experts said that among decline in the number of daily COVID-19 positive cases across the country and easing of lockdown restriction by the states,
the commercial and industrial demand of power would definitely rise from July onwards.
Peak power request met or the highest supply in a day touched an all-time high of 200.57 GW in the first fortnight of July (recorded on July 7, 2021). Daily power consumption also reached an all-time high of 4,508 million units on July 7, 2021.
In the first fortnight of July, peak power demand met recorded growth of closely 18 per cent compared to 170.40 GW (recorded on July 2). Peak power demand met for the whole month of July 2020 was also 170.40 GW.
The peak power demand met was recorded at 175.12 GW in July 2019.
Last year, the government had forced a lockdown on March 25, to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The lockdown was eased in a phased manner, but had hit the economic and commercial actions and resulted in lower commercial and industrial demand for electricity in the country.
Power consumption in April 2021, saw year-on-year growth of approximately 38.5%. The second wave of COVID-19 began in the middle of April this year and affected the recovery in commercial and industrial power demand as states started imposing restrictions in the latter part of the month.
Power consumption in the country witnessed 6.6% year-on-year growth in May at 108.80 BU notwithstanding a low base of 102.08 BU in the same month of 2020.
According to the latest data, power consumption in June grew nearly 9% to 114.35 BU, compared to 105.08 BU in the same month last year.
Power consumption in February this year was recorded at 103.25 BU, related to 103.81 BU a year ago.
In March this year, power consumption grew nearly 22% to 120.63 BU, related to 98.95 BU in the same month of 2020.
After a gap of six months, power consumption had recorded 4.6% year-on-year growth in September 2020, and 11.6% in October 2020.
In November, power consumption growth slowed to 3.12%, largely due to early onset of winters. In December, it grew 4.5%, while this was 4.4% higher in January 2021.
