Power Demand Surges in Patna as Summer Sets In
Patna: With the onset of summer, Patna is witnessing a sharp rise in electricity consumption as residents turn to fans, air conditioners, and coolers to combat the heat. The city’s daily power demand has already touched 450MW this month, with officials from Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (PESU) warning that consumption could surpass 1,000MW in the coming weeks.
PESU officials anticipate record-breaking electricity usage in May and June, surpassing last year’s peak of 925MW on May 31, 2024. In June 2023, the city had recorded a maximum consumption of 875MW. The increasing demand is attributed to rising temperatures as well as a growing number of electricity consumers. According to PESU, the 2024-25 financial year has already seen an eight percent increase in new connections, with five percent comprising commercial users under LTPC and HTPC categories. Additionally, several industrial consumers have installed new 19kW connections.
PESU has recently reported that 1,500-1,700 new domestic connections are issued each month across the city’s 13 electricity divisions. By the end of the financial year, the number of electricity consumers in the PESU area is expected to rise by 24,000. The demand is further driven by new apartment complexes installing HTC transformers. Last year’s extreme heatwave saw the sale of 85,000 air conditioners, significantly contributing to the power load during peak hours.
To address the increasing demand, a new power substation is planned in Bhagwatipur to ensure uninterrupted supply in western Patna. The project aims to ease the power crisis in areas such as Neura, Usri, Dharampur, and Shivala, which have struggled with supply issues during the summer months. A PESU official said that a growing population in these areas has led to frequent overloading, affecting more than 50,000 residents. The new substation will provide dedicated power supply, with land allocation already underway and construction set to begin in June.
