Mumbai witnessed a new peak power demand record on Monday, reaching 4,540 megawatts (MW), surpassing the previous all-time high of 4,372 MW recorded just last month. The city's local power generation from Tata Power and Adani Electricity could collectively produce only 865 MW, forcing the remaining 3,675 MW to be imported from outside the city.
Structural Challenge in Power Supply
The significant gap between local generation and actual demand underscores a structural challenge for Mumbai. Over recent years, peak consumption has fluctuated between 4,000 MW and 4,400 MW, and projections indicate it could rise to 5,000 MW in the coming years.
Factors Driving Surge in Demand
Power sector experts attribute the surge in demand to multiple factors. These include the rapid expansion of data centres, the proliferation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and increasing traction demand from Metro rail operations, including existing lines 1, 3, 2A, and 7.
Measures to Strengthen Supply
To enhance supply reliability, a 1,000 MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link was commissioned last month. This has boosted Mumbai's transmission capacity, increasing the city's external power intake capacity by 50 percent.
Time-of-Day Tariffs Encouraged
Consumers have been encouraged to shift their electricity usage to non-peak hours through 'time of day' tariffs. This dynamic pricing model adjusts rates based on demand, offering a benefit of 50 paise per unit for off-peak consumption.
