04 January,2009 07:13 AM IST | | Shashank Rao
Since Mumbai has consumed more power in winter 2008 than usual, it may impact summer's electricity crisis
The hot days and warm nights of December last year, that touched a maximum of 32 degrees, is to be blamed for Mumbai's loss of 200 Mw. This could have an impact during the scorching Mumbai summers when people face a sweaty situation. Reason: the demand for electricity at the onset of a 'warm' winter was more than the average demand in both Mumbai city and suburbs.
In Mumbai
Usually during the winter months of December and January, air conditioners and fans are not used. This is the period when the demand for electricity is approximately 1800 megawatt (Mw) [1100 Mw in suburbs and 700 Mw in city] in Mumbai. But this year, the demand is nearly 2,000 Mw [1200 Mw in suburbs and 800 Mw in city], a clear-cut excess consumption of 200 Mw.
A senior official from Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (R Infra) said, "The consumer base is increasing and so are commercial outlets and shopping malls. This has also increased the demand for electricity, even during winter."
Apparently, nearly one lakh consumers are added in Mumbai every year. The demand thus increases by 100 Mw.
In December 2007, the demand for power in suburbs was 1287 Mw, but last year, it increased to 1284 Mw. S A Puranik, Additional General Manager (Electric Supply), BEST said, "It was a warm December and so the demand really didn't come down. Now that it's cooler, we expect the demand to come down after January."
Metropolitan Region
In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, apart from Mumbai, usually the demand is 3500 Mw during winter. This has now shot up to 4000 Mw. There are at least 60 plus shopping malls in Mumbai and Thane. With growing development, several chawls and ghettos are being converted into commercial complexes. Now people are being pushed further north into the suburbs.
Sixty-five shopping malls are expected to come up in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. However, Ashok Pendse, Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, feels that malls do not consume more than 2 Mw and can not be solely blamed for the increase. The evening peak demand for electricity in Maharashtra too has increased.
What does 200 Mw mean for Mumbai?
Two hundred looks like a small number, but the Mw changes the whole perspective. 200 Mw is the deficit that Mumbai city faces during summer months from March to |May. If people manage to consume less now, then at least Mumbai and Thane can suffer less during summers when people
tend to demand more electricity.
Power consumption
Geyser: 1 unit in 20 min
Air-conditioner: 1 unit in 30 minutes
Microwave oven/frost-free freezers: 1 unit in 25 minutes
