Loadshedding in parts of Maharashtra as electricity demand peaks | Mumbai News – Times of India

MUMBAI: The state witnessed an “emergency loadshedding” on Friday as the peak power demand from consumers across Maharashtra went beyond the available power supply from MSEDCL.
According to an official, the peak demand in the state crossed 24,300 MW while the supply was restricted to 23,500 MW. “We faced loadshedding of 800-900 MW during the day and had to procure power from other sources,” he said.
At 3,526 MW, Mumbai’s peak demand on Friday was a new high this monsoon season. However, the power utilities such as BEST, Adani Electricity, and Tata Power catered to the rising demand.
Also, in MSEDCL areas, Mumbai along with other cities such as Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Aurangabad were spared of the loadshedding. Senior MSEDCL spokesperson Bharat Pawar said: “These cities will not witness loadshedding as it was carried out in the rural parts of state on Friday. Also, we have arranged for additional power and so that situation will improve in the next few days.”
Sources said that MSEDCL procured power from private generators as well as the Central Exchange to meet the shortfall. “We expected abundant rainfall the past few days, but this has not been the case and so there was demand for power from agriculture consumers,” said an official. Besides, the peak power demand in various cities and districts had also gone up considerably, he added.
The peak demand usually shoots up by September end and October, but this time it has been witnessed early, another official added.
The peak power demand in Mumbai has also been in the range of 3300 MW to 3450 MW lately due to less rainfall and increasing humidity and hot weather. Power utility companies have appealed to citizens to conserve energy and make optimum use of fans and ACs. “We also appeal to Mumbaikars to switch to energy- saving fans etc which can be purchased at discounted rates from utility firms,” an official added.