The government has asked power companies to ensure that there is no load shedding during the summer season and urged all stakeholders to take proactive actions to meet the rising electricity demand.

Union power minister R.K. Singh chaired a review meeting on March 7, with senior officials from power, coal and railways ministries on various aspects in a bid to meet high electricity demand in the ensuing summer months.

Singh asked the Central Electricity Authority to ensure that a fair and transparent mechanism is devised for the allocation of coal to the states and Union territories.

According to the estimates of the Central Electricity Authority, the peak electricity demand is expected to be 229 GW during April this year. The demand then tapers off as monsoon season picks up from the southern part of the country and covers the whole country over the next 3-4 months, it said.

With GDP growing at close to 7 per cent, the power demand has been growing in the country at close to 10 per cent per annum, it added.

According to the estimates, the energy demand is expected to be 1,42,097 MU during April this year, highest in the year, before reducing to 1.41,464 MU in May and further declining to 1,17,049 MU during November, it said.

The power ministry has devised a multi-pronged strategy to ensure adequate availability of power during the upcoming summer months, it stated.

As part of the strategy, the power utilities have been directed to undertake maintenance for coal-based power plants well in advance so that no planned maintenance is required during the crunch period, it said.

Directions have already been issued under section-11 (of electricity act) to all imported coal-based plants to run at full capacity from March 16, 2023.

Adequate coal stocks would be made available at the coal-based power plants.