Chennai: For the second time this summer, Tamil Nadu’s peak power demand breached the 21,000-MW mark, touching a new high on Tuesday. Unlike earlier peaks recorded during the day, the latest surge of 21,060MW came at 10.30pm, pointing to a sharp rise in air-conditioner use as nights turn increasingly hot. The previous high of 21,010MW was recorded on April 17. “Usually, the peak power demand will take place shortly after sunset or in the afternoon. The night-time power demands have been higher this year,” said a Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corporation Ltd official. On Tuesday, total power consumption reached 462.38 million units (MU), narrowly missing the all-time daily record by just 0.3MU. Of the 462.38MU, just 77MU was met through TNPGCL’s generation at thermal, gas and hydro plants, while 127MU was provided by the central power plants. Another 86.5MU was the share from long- and medium-term power purchase agreements.Through short-term and direct power purchases from the market, 72.177MU was met on Tuesday. Though TNPDCL officials said the electricity demand was met without difficulty, residents from different parts of the city, including Kolathur, Anna Nagar West, Vanagaram and Chitlapakkam, complained of interruptions in power supply on Tuesday night. TNPDCL officials attributed these interruptions to the failures of local distribution system.
