Ahmedabad: The peak power demand of Gujarat reached 25,987 MW on Friday, surpassing Thursday’s demand of 25,930 MW by 47 MW within 24 hours.

The peak, which was reached at around 3 PM, marks the highest power demand of the season, driven by the ongoing scorching heat as daytime temperatures soar between 42°C and 43°C in many cities. As citizens struggle against the extreme heat, continuous use of air conditioners, coolers, and electric fans is putting immense pressure on the power distribution companies (DISCOMs).

Even during the night hours, between 10 PM and 1 AM, the power load on the system remained high due to the sustained use of cooling devices.

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam estimates that in May this year, the state’s power demand could touch 27,000 MW.

Additionally, Gujarat State Electricity Corporation has resumed power generation at its gas-based plants in Dhuvaran and Utaran to meet demand, despite higher costs associated with gas power.

In previous years, especially in 2022–23, these plants operated minimally due to high gas prices. However, it is learnt that now both plants are generating electricity as required. Additional power is also being procured from the open market to ensure an uninterrupted supply. DeshGujarat