T.N.’s peak power demand expected to touch 22,000-MW mark this summer: Senthilbalaji

Tamil Nadu Minister for Electricity V. Senthilbalaji held a review meeting on Wednesday on the preparedness for meeting the demand this summer.

“We expect the peak demand this summer to reach 22,000 MW, compared with 20,830 MW last year,” he told reporters after the meeting at the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board’s headquarters.

The State’s peak power demand in January and February was 17,279 MW and 18,584 MW respectively.  It is expected to touch 19,500 MW, 21,943 MW, and 22,079 MW respectively in March, April, and May, according to an official statement. Measures have been taken to meet the demand through own generation and short-term power and swap arrangements, it added.

To meet the demand for April and May, arrangements have been made to buy power through tenders that have been finalised. All measures have been taken to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the summer months, he said.

The release said 7,000 MW of thermal power generation capacity addition and 14,500 MW of pumped storage capacity has been planned. J. Radhakrishnan, Chairman and Managing Director of Tangedco, and other officials were present.