Chandigarh, July 18: Punjab recorded an unprecedented spike in energy consumption this June, with power demand rising by 20 percent over the last five years. Data prepared by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited indicates that changing weather patterns and the simultaneous launch of the paddy sowing season have stretched the state’s electrical infrastructure. Grid management authorities actively worked to stabilize transmission while handling peak loads that frequently neared the 17,000 megawatt mark during the summer rush.
The daily electricity requirements regularly outpaced local generation capabilities, forcing the state to rely heavily on external energy corridors. Internal power generation normally tops out at 6,500 megawatts when all thermal and hydel units operate without technical faults. To bridge the gap, regional distribution networks relied on the northern grid, pushing actual import levels up to 11,100 megawatts at specific intervals, despite a standard scheduled drawal limit of 10,700 megawatts.
Farming practices heavily influence these mid-year consumption surges. Every June, fields across the state require intensive irrigation as the paddy season commences, causing thousands of agricultural tubewells to operate simultaneously. This massive rural energy draw coincided with intense domestic cooling requirements as urban centers faced prolonged spells of high temperatures.
Statistical breakdowns from the utility provider reveal a steady multi-year escalation in peak requirements. The maximum power demand stood at 14,358 megawatts in June 2022, moved to 16,818 megawatts later that year, registered at 16,078 megawatts in 2023, and reached 15,307 megawatts in 2024, before climbing to this year’s historic high of 17,147 megawatts. Daily supply figures also reflected this upward trajectory, with late June deliveries surpassing 3,800 lakh units, even as minor deficits occurred due to the sheer volume of consumption.
Experts point to broader environmental shifts as the underlying driver for these infrastructure challenges. All India Power Engineers Federation spokesman VK Gupta remarked that climate change leading to more heatwave days means more stress on power appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, fans, and others. He further asserted that the demand will rise further, and the worst part is that it is rising rapidly, noting that it is high time governments find and look for long-term solutions.
