Power demand in State touches a new peak
R. Srikanth
Chennai, April 29, 2018 00:00 IST
Tangedco tackles it by augmenting generation capacity, distribution network
It was the same day two years ago on April 29, 2016, when the city residents faced the worst blackout after the State recorded the highest demand for power. However, the electricity distribution network in the city on Friday withstood the peak demand when it almost touched 15,500 mega watt (MW).
The two-year-old record of highest peak demand was broken when the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) registered 15,440 MW demand at 7.50 p.m. on Friday.
Peak daily usage
The previous record of highest demand was registered at 15,343 MW on April 29, 2016. Not only the peak demand but also the highest daily usage went past 352 million units (MU) last week by touching 355 MU on Friday. This month alone the daily usage crossed the 350 MU mark thrice.
A senior Tangedco official said though the highest demand touched 15,440 MW and consumption recorded 355 MU on Friday, there were not many disruptions in the city which reflects the robust distribution network.
Power cuts experienced by residents in parts of the city, including T. Nagar, R.A. Puram, Royapettah and Mylapore, on Friday night were not because of demand, but because of the damage to underground power cable by some service provider. The disruptions were rectified within an hour, he added.
Power managers in the State are not perturbed by the peak demand, which is in the range of 15,300 to 15,500 MW a day during this month, as the generation capacity without wind energy was almost 18,000 MW and the distribution network was working fine because of better maintenance work carried out last year.
Another surge likely
A senior Tangedco official said the electricity utility could easily manage 15,500 MW of peak demand easily. Once the wind season picks up, which could happen from May, they could even handle demand for 16,500 MW.
The only problem the officials are facing is the extreme heat that could cause damage in the form of snapping of high tension power lines or technical snag at substations.
But, necessary backup power supply in case of such technical faults had been provided, he says.
R. Srikanth
Chennai, April 29, 2018 00:00 IST
Tangedco tackles it by augmenting generation capacity, distribution network
It was the same day two years ago on April 29, 2016, when the city residents faced the worst blackout after the State recorded the highest demand for power. However, the electricity distribution network in the city on Friday withstood the peak demand when it almost touched 15,500 mega watt (MW).
The two-year-old record of highest peak demand was broken when the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) registered 15,440 MW demand at 7.50 p.m. on Friday.
Peak daily usage
The previous record of highest demand was registered at 15,343 MW on April 29, 2016. Not only the peak demand but also the highest daily usage went past 352 million units (MU) last week by touching 355 MU on Friday. This month alone the daily usage crossed the 350 MU mark thrice.
A senior Tangedco official said though the highest demand touched 15,440 MW and consumption recorded 355 MU on Friday, there were not many disruptions in the city which reflects the robust distribution network.
Power cuts experienced by residents in parts of the city, including T. Nagar, R.A. Puram, Royapettah and Mylapore, on Friday night were not because of demand, but because of the damage to underground power cable by some service provider. The disruptions were rectified within an hour, he added.
Power managers in the State are not perturbed by the peak demand, which is in the range of 15,300 to 15,500 MW a day during this month, as the generation capacity without wind energy was almost 18,000 MW and the distribution network was working fine because of better maintenance work carried out last year.
Another surge likely
A senior Tangedco official said the electricity utility could easily manage 15,500 MW of peak demand easily. Once the wind season picks up, which could happen from May, they could even handle demand for 16,500 MW.
The only problem the officials are facing is the extreme heat that could cause damage in the form of snapping of high tension power lines or technical snag at substations.
But, necessary backup power supply in case of such technical faults had been provided, he says.
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