Piyush Singh, the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Power (MoP), revealed that India had witnessed staggering 23 per cent increase in peak electricity demand during the month of August, marking one of the highest surges in global electricity consumption. Throughout August, the country experienced seven consecutive days where daily energy consumption exceeded five billion units per day (BU/day), and on a staggering 16 days, the maximum electricity demand soared above 220 gigawatts (GW). To address this soaring demand for electricity, the Ministry of Power has implemented a series of crucial measures in a letter written to all States. The ministry is focused on ensuring the maximum availability of power generation capacity. Non-priority maintenance work at power plants is being deferred to guarantee uninterrupted supply, the letter said.

 

Close coordination and monitoring with the Ministries of Coal and Railways are being maintained to increase coal production and its dispatch. All power generation companies (Gencos), including Central, State, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs), have been instructed to import coal for blending purposes to avoid any potential load-shedding, it said. Singh stated in the letter that plans are underway to secure additional gas supplies from GAIL through advance procurement tenders to meet upcoming high power demand months. He also said, the ministry has notified the Electricity Amendment Rule, 2022, which mandates the preparation of a resource adequacy plan to ensure the successful meeting of consumer power demand. The letter claimed that statutory directions have been issued to Imported Coal-Based (ICB) plants under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, extending their obligation to stock coal and generate power during high demand periods until October 2023.