Cool weather widens power demand slump to 19.7% in first week of June

The peak power demand met in May stood at 166.42 GW (recorded on May 26), which was 8.82 per cent less than 182.55 GW in the same month a year earlier

Relatively cool weather in the first week of June in many parts of the country led to a widening of power demand slump to 19.7 per cent from 8.8 per cent in May this year.

The spurt in power demand due to the intensifying heatwave and the resumption of commercial and industrial activities across the country after easing of the lockdown in the second half of May had raised hopes that power consumption would further inch towards normal levels (of last year) in June.

According to power ministry data, the peak power demand met ranged between 138.28 GW (on June