Patna: A coordinated ten-minute blackout drill conducted across six districts in Bihar on Wednesday led to a temporary reduction of 733 megawatts (MW) in electricity consumption, power officials confirmed. The surplus electricity was subsequently sold in the open market, following standard procedures in the power sector.
The drill, part of a wider emergency preparedness initiative amid heightened security concerns following the Pahalgam attack, aimed to simulate conditions during potential air raids. Residents in Patna, Begusarai, Purnia, Katihar, Araria, and Kishanganj were instructed to switch off all electrical appliances from 7 pm to 7.10 pm, following a siren alert.
Power consumption in Bihar stood at 6,168 MW at 6.55 pm, just before the blackout. It dropped to 5,433 MW during the ten-minute interval. Patna alone accounted for the most significant dip, with consumption falling by 450 MW to just 29 MW during the drill.
Officials stated that the reduction in load allowed the Bihar power company to sell the excess electricity on the open market. In the power trading ecosystem, surplus energy can be rerouted to other utilities facing shortfalls, providing both financial and operational benefits.
“After the blackout ended, demand swiftly returned to normal levels, peaking at 6,200 MW,” a senior power department official said.
