Discoms gear up as Delhi’s peak power demand set to hit 9,000MW this summer

New Delhi: Delhi’s power distribution companies (discoms) are gearing up to meet the projected surge in power demand in the national capital in the upcoming summer season.

BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL), BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (BYPL) and Tata Power - Delhi Distribution Ltd (DDL) have said that they are prepared to meet this surge in demand through various measures including entering long-term power purchase agreements and banking arrangements, and strengthening their networks through maintenance and upgradations.

Peak power demand in Delhi is projected to hit 9,000MW for the first time this year at a time even as the nationwide peak demand is also likely to touch new highs due to above-normal temperatures in summers and heatwaves.

Tata Power-DDL's plans

Tata Power-DDL, which serves consumers in North Delhi, said in a statement that its distribution network has been strategically designed and is being continuously optimized to meet the expected peak demand of 2,562MW in the areas where it provides services. Tata Power DDL added that during last year's summer, the power demand had peaked to 2,481MW in its area of operation.

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“To ensure reliability, long-term power purchase agreements and banking arrangements are in place, securing power supply of up to 2,850 MW,” said the company statement.

The peak load in the national capital is projected to reach 9,000MW in late June or early July. Amid concerns of power outages in the Delhi at a time when temperatures are rising, the company said that it typically conducts maintenance and network upgradation work between October and March. 

However, this year, due to GRAP restrictions in November and December, its scheduled maintenance and network upgradation outage plan amplified in the month of March. GRAP refers to graded response action plan, which is an anti-pollution measure effected by a series of restrictions on things like polluting vehicles, non-essential construction, etc.

Outlining reasons for some of the recent outages, the company cited reasons behind them in certain locations. It said there have been no power cuts in Delhi University in the past one week, while there have been seven planned shutdowns with an average of one hour for system improvement schemes to mitigate overloading ahead of the summer in Kirari area.

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In Rohini Sector 22, one planned shutdown of six hours was carried out in Pocket 11 and 12 to augment the distribution transformer, it said, adding that over the last week, nine planned shutdowns, each averaging three hours, were conducted under system improvement schemes to address potential overloading during the summer in Burari area.

It, however, said that some of the complaints and claims being shared on social media are “inaccurate and misleading.”

BSES’s plans

BSES, on the other hand, said that its discoms—BRPL and BYPL—are ensuring uninterrupted power supply to its consumers across South, West, East and Central Delhi through smart power procurement strategies including long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), banking arrangements with other states, along with a robust distribution network.

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Peak power demand in BRPL’s area of South and West Delhi, which had clocked 3,809MW during the summer of 2024, is expected to reach around 4,050MW in 2025. In BYPL’s areaa of East and Central Delhi, the peak power demand, which had reached 1,882MW during the summer of 2024, is expected to touch around 1,900MW this year.

According to data from State Load Despatch Centre Delhi, the city’s peak power demand has remained stable, ranging between 4,070MW and 4,360MW since 25 March. “BSES discoms are ensuring a seamless, reliable and quality power supply, successfully meeting Delhi’s winter electricity demand,” it said.