As North India grapples with a persistent cold wave, Haryana’s electricity demand reached a winter record today, touching a peak load of 9,000 MW. The surge is primarily attributed to the widespread use of high-wattage heating appliances like geysers and heaters.
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Breaking Records: The current demand is nearly 15% higher than the same period last year. “The sharp dip in temperatures across both rural and urban sectors has forced a shift in consumption patterns. The peak was recorded between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM today,” stated a senior official from the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN).
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The Urban-Rural Divide:
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Urban Hubs: Cities like Gurugram, Faridabad, and Panchkula contributed significantly to the load, with residential high-rises utilizing heavy electric heating systems.
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Rural Sector: The demand was further bolstered by the agricultural sector, where farmers are using tubewells for irrigation during the early morning hours.
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Infrastructure Stress: Despite the record-high demand, the state power utilities (UHBVN and DHBVN) managed to maintain a stable supply. However, several incidents of transformer overheating and local fuse-blowouts were reported from densely populated areas due to the sudden spike in domestic load.
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Management Strategy: The Power Minister assured that there is no shortage of electricity. “We have sufficient tie-ups with central generating stations and long-term power purchase agreements. Our priority is to ensure 24-hour supply to domestic consumers during this harsh winter,” the Minister said.
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Advisory for Citizens: The department has issued a “Load Management Advisory,” urging citizens to:
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Avoid using geysers and heavy heaters during the peak evening hours (6 PM to 9 PM).
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Ensure that their internal household wiring is capable of handling the increased load to prevent short circuits.
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Consider switching to energy-efficient 5-star rated heating appliances to reduce individual bills and grid pressure.
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