In the first half of December of this year, India's power demand rose by 4.8 percent to 50.36 billion units (BU), indicating consistency in economic activities, according to government statistics. According to power ministry numbers, power consumption was registered at 48.04 BU during December 1-15 last year. Power consumption reported a year-on-year rise of 4.4 percent in September and 11.6 percent in October after a break of six months. The increase in energy demand slowed to 3.7 percent in November to 97.43 BU compared to 93.94 BU in the same month last year, mostly due to the early onset of winters. Experts claim that the rise in energy usage in the first half of this month indicates that there is a constant change in commercial and industrial demand due to the loosening of lockdown restrictions. Nevertheless, they believe that in the remainder of the winter season the effects of weather change will not last long because economic activity is almost close to pre-pandemic peaks.
Power consumption on a year-on-year basis declined 8.7 percent in March, 23.2 percent in April, 14.9 percent in May, 10.9 percent in June, 3.7 percent in July and 1.7 percent in August.
The data showed that electricity consumption had grown by 11.73 percent in February. It showed improvement after April 20 due to easing of restrictions on economic activities. Peak power demand met, the highest supply of power in the country in a day, in first half of December was also recorded higher at 166.33GW (on December 15) compared to 156.47 GW during December 1 to 15 period, last year.