Searing heat pushes power demand in Delhi to new high

New Delhi, June 21 (IANS) Sizzling under 43.6 degrees Celsius - five notches above average, Delhi saw power demand shoot to a new high of 5,271 megawatt Thursday. This is the third time in June that power consumption has broken all previous years' records.

On June 16, the capital had recorded the highest-ever consumption of 5,265 MW while June 1 saw the consumption peaking at 5,178 MW.

"Today's (Thursday's) power demand was 5,271 MW which is the highest in the history of power consumption in Delhi," said a power department official.

The minimum temperature was recorded six notches above average at 33.6 degrees Celsius while the humidity wavered between a high and low of 41 and 21 percent.

According to meet department, rain is expected on the weekend.

Until now, the highest ever demand had been 5,028 MW in August 2011.

In 2012, the projected consumption of power has been pegged at 5,500 MW.

Over the past 12 years, the demand for electricity in the capital has shown an upward trend.

The peak demand for power reached 2,831 MW in 2001 and has continued to increase ever since