Noida and Greater Noida are witnessing a significant surge in power demand as temperatures soar to 44 degrees Celsius. Over the past week, Noida's electricity consumption has increased by 561 megawatts (MW), reaching a total of 2,609 MW. Meanwhile, Greater Noida's demand has risen by 115 MW, settling at 852 MW.
Steady Climb Since Mid-May
Vivek Kumar Patel, Superintending Engineer (Technical) of Pashchimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL), stated that power demand has been climbing steadily since May 12, when the mercury first breached the 40 degrees Celsius mark. "The peak demand is expected to cross 3,000 MW in July and August, when humidity levels are at their highest," Patel told Times of India.
For context, last year Noida's peak demand was recorded at 2,800 MW. The city has been adding approximately 120 MW of power demand annually, driven largely by an increase in residential purchases and the expansion of commercial and industrial activities in the district.
Rising Connections and Seasonal Variations
A power department official explained that the city adds nearly 2,200 new electricity connections every month, while about 170 consumers opt for disconnection. This results in an additional load of about 10 MW per month, contributing to the yearly increase. Seasonal variation remains stark, with demand dropping to around 1,600 MW during winter months.
The discom (PVVNL) currently serves over 4.5 lakh consumers in Noida, of which approximately 85% are domestic users. These domestic consumers account for 43% of the overall electricity consumption, according to officials.
Greater Noida Crosses Last Year's Peak
Greater Noida has already surpassed last year's peak demand of 832 MW, which was recorded on June 12, 2024. The Noida Power Company Limited (NPCL), which supplies power to Greater Noida, had projected in February that demand would surge to 950 MW this summer. The discom attributes this hike to increased residential, industrial, and commercial developments in the area.
NPCL caters to over 2 lakh consumers, with the majority being domestic connections, along with large and small industries, commercial establishments, and institutions.
Infrastructure Upgrades to Meet Demand
Both discoms have assured sufficient supply to meet the district's power demands. An NPCL spokesperson announced that the company recently inaugurated a new 33/11 kV substation-cum-switching station in Sector 16B, Greater Noida West, on May 14, with a capacity of 12.5 MVA. "This new facility is set to improve reliability and ensure a better quality of power supply not only for residents but also for commercial consumers in connected areas, including Sector 16, Ecotech 15, and beyond," the spokesperson said.
In Noida, approximately 19 new substations, over 400 transformers, and upgrades of existing substations are underway under the Central government's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, as well as annual business plans for infrastructure repairs.
This article was originally contributed by Meenakshi Sinha, City Features Editor with The Times of India. Readers can also check updates on gold rate, silver rate, bank holidays, public holidays, AQI, weather, and fuel prices in Noida.
