Government Takes Measures to Ensure Adequate Power Supply Amid Rising Summer Demand

As the summer heat intensifies, the Government of India has implemented a series of proactive measures to ensure a stable and sufficient supply of electricity during the peak months of April, May, and June 2024. 

To address the power needs, the government has already initiated various steps, including the enforcement of Section 11 Directions for Imported-Coal-Based Power Plants, rescheduling planned maintenance of power plants to the monsoon season, and minimizing partial and forced outages of thermal generating units. Additionally, efforts to revive thermal plants under extended outages and advisories to generation companies have been instrumental in maximizing power availability.

During April 2024, these measures enabled the successful meeting of the peak evening power demand, which reached a formidable 224 GW. Building on this success, further actions have been undertaken to tackle the anticipated surge in demand during May and June.

In a recent development, similar directives issued under Section 11 have been extended to gas-based power plants, unlocking an additional 6 GW of capacity for the upcoming months. The optimization of hydro power generation is set to contribute an extra 4 GW, while the strategic scheduling of maintenance and reduction of outages in thermal plants will add another 5 GW to the available capacity.

Moreover, an increase in power generation from wind sources, expected to rise by 4 GW to 5 GW during May and June compared to April, further strengthens the power supply outlook. Coupled with the projected above-normal monsoon forecast by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), these measures instill confidence in meeting the anticipated power demand both during daytime and evening hours throughout the summer months of 2024.