Heat wave increases electricity consumption in Gujarat

The prolonged heatwave has increased electricity consumption across Gujarat by 5 per cent in the past one month as compared to the same period in 2013, a senior power official today said.
Despite the increased demand for power, supply is being ensured in various parts of the state without imposing any restrictions on use of electricity, a spokesman of Gujarat Energy Transmission Company Limited told PTI here today.
"The power consumption has gone up by five per cent in the past one month as compared to the corresponding period last year, touching a high of 13,250 MW," the spokesman said.

Because the total installed capacity in the state is around 19,000 MW, including generation of power by thermal, gas and hydro-based power stations owned by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam limited, private and central sectors, Gujarat has remained a power surplus state, he said.
The residents of various cities in Gujarat are consuming maximum electricity in the afternoons. The change in demand timing has been triggered by domestic air conditioners and air coolers operating during peak heat hours, unlike earlier, when it used to operate at night only, the spokesman said.
Gujarat Energy and Finance Minister Saurabh Patel told PTI that the state government has been ensuring power to all consumers ,including domestic and commercial, without imposing any restrictions on usage.

Under the Jyoti Gram scheme, all villages in the state get power 24X7 and also, an assured supply of power is given to the farm sector, Patel said.
Despite a revision in power tariffs for commercial, domestic and other electricity consumers in the state, the rates have remained unchanged for agriculture consumers since the last four years, he said.
"Gujarat government has been providing annual subsidy of Rs 4,500 crore to power companies in the state to supply electricity to the farmers. The government has spent Rs 1,500 crore to provide one lakh new power connections to the farmers," he added.