Households driving up power demand | Economic Times

NEW DELHI: Rural India and urban households are driving up the consumption for electricity and liquid fuels with gradual increase in economic activity but demand remains weak in industrialised regions.Peak-hour electricity demand in Punjab last Tuesday was 15% higher at 8,097 megawatts compared to a year ago. Consumption is higher by 3-5% in Haryana and Rajasthan also, but Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which have a high number of Covid cases, are lagging behind as industries are yet to operate in full capacity. In the union territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, power consumption fell 48%, while in Daman & Diu it fell 37%.Electricity demand is inching closer to last year's level but experts feel it is mostly due to hot weather, particularly in the plains of northern India. Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are closer to last year’s electricity demand level.Industrial demand on power exchange is substantially lower than the average level but is still about 4-5 times after lockdown restrictions have been eased. Prices on India Energy Exchange have been in the range of ₹2.4-2.5 per unit since March.