India's power consumption up 5.45% at 27.41 bn units in first week of Sept

India's power consumption grew 5.45 per cent in the first week of September to 27.41 billion units, showing consistent recovery after easing of lockdown by states, according to power ministry data

India's power consumption grew 5.45 per cent in the first week of September to 27.41 billion units (BU), showing consistent recovery after easing of lockdown curbs by states, according to power ministry data.

During September 1-7 in 2020, the power consumption was 25.99 BU. It was 26.10 BU during September 1-7 in 2019.

In the entire month of September last year, the power consumption was 112.43 BU, higher than 107.51 BU in the same month in 2019.

Experts say the recovery in power demand and consumption in the first week of September 2021 is consistent and would further improve as many states have eased lockdown restrictions for boosting economic activities.

They said that now the only fear is another wave of pandemic which may dampen this recovery.

The commercial and industrial power demand and consumption got affected April onwards this year due to lockdown restrictions imposed by states after the second wave of COVID-19 hit the country.

There are fears of another wave of the pandemic which may result in lockdown restrictions hitting commercial and industrial demand of power in the country, as per experts.

Peak power demand met or the highest supply in a day stood at 177.70GW in the first week of September, which is higher than 169.05 GW in the same period last year.

The peak power demand met in the entire month of September 2020 was 176.56 GW, which was higher than 173.14 in the same month in 2019.

As per the revised data, in August this year, power consumption grew by 17.92 per cent at 128.78 BU compared to 109.21 BU in same month in 2020.

The second wave of COVID-19 started 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.

April 2021 saw year-on-year growth of nearly 38.5 per cent in power consumption.

Power consumption in the country witnessed 6.6 per cent year-on-year growth in May this year at 108.80 BU despite a low base of 102.08 BU in the same month of 2020.

As per the latest data, power consumption in June grew nearly 9 per cent to 114.48 BU, compared to 105.08 BU in the same month last year.

Power consumption in July this year grew nearly 9.4 per cent to 123.72 BU compared to 112.14BU in the same month a year ago.

Power consumption in February this year was recorded at 103.25 BU, compared to 103.81 BU a year ago. In March this year, power consumption grew nearly 22 per cent to 120.63 BU, compared to 98.95 BU in the same month of 2020.

After a gap of six months, power consumption had recorded 4.6 per cent year-on-year growth in September 2020, and 11.6 per cent in October 2020. In November, power consumption growth slowed to 3.12 per cent, mainly due to early onset of winters.

In December, it grew 4.5 per cent, while this was 4.4 per cent higher in January 2021.