Power consumption falls by 30% in Assam during COVID-19 lockdown

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The peak hour power demand in Assam fell by around 30 percent during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Talking to The Sentinel, an APDCL (Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd) officer said, “The daily power demand during the peak hours in the State in March 2019 was 1,258 MW on an average. However in March this year, the daily average peak-hour power consumption in the State declined to 1160 MW. Likewise, in April 2019, the peak hour daily power consumption in the State was 1253 MW on an average. However in April 2020, the daily average power consumption during the peak hour in the State is 1052 MW. The decline ranges from 25-30 per cent. We’ve even witnessed the maximum peak-hour fall in power demand of 260-MW this month.”

According to the APDCL officer, the average power consumption in March 2019 in the State during off peak hours was 849 MW, which has declined to 774 MW in March 2020. Likewise, the average daily power consumption in April 2019 during the off peak hours was 843 MW which fell to 702 MW in April 2020, the officer said, adding, “The APDCL witnessed maximum peak-hour power demand of 2051 MW, and it could meet up to 1956 MW of power. From July to November, the consumption of power keeps rising. Even as the power demand of commercial consumers fell during the lockdown, domestic power during the period has gone up.”

APGCL’s (Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd) capacity of power production from its own sources is 378 MW. It however, produces 119 MW during off peak hours and 125 MW in peak hours. The APDCL has to procure the rest of the power from other agencies.

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