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."