Power demand down; revenue may take a hit

31/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The demand for electricity in the State, particularly in Chennai, has drastically reduced since the lockdown came into effect.

With most industrial and commercial establishments shut, the power managers are sitting pretty, with demand not exceeding 12,000 MW.

Electricity Minister P. Thangamani had said demand had reduced by over 4,500 MW. But officials are concerned about revenue collection. The shutting down of establishments representing high-tension and commercial consumers, who account for a majority of Tangedco’s revenue, would result in a huge gap in revenue generation, said a senior official of Tangedco. The silver lining is the availability of cheap electricity through the power exchanges, with the price not exceeding ₹2.10 per unit.