El Nino Impact: Andhra Pradesh's Daily Power Demand Exceeds 270 Million Units
Andhra Pradesh's daily electricity demand has crossed 270 million units (MU) as daytime temperatures remain consistently high due to the impact of El Nino, according to the state government. The weather phenomenon, linked to abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, has led to hotter-than-usual conditions in the region, increasing the use of cooling appliances and pushing up power consumption.
To meet the elevated demand, the Energy Department has been procuring additional power from electricity exchanges and the Term-Ahead Market, a platform for short-term power trading, whenever the situation warrants. Officials said these measures are being taken to avoid any shortfall in supply to consumers across the state.
On Wednesday, Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar chaired a review meeting at the Secretariat to assess the power generation and supply situation. He directed officials to focus on increasing generation and supply in line with the rising demand. The Minister emphasised the need to anticipate a likely spurt in demand in order to ramp up generation and purchase power from external sources, ensuring uninterrupted supply to residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial sectors.
The Minister also stressed the importance of enhancing renewable power generation to the extent possible, which would ease the burden on thermal units. This aligns with the state's broader goal of promoting cleaner energy sources while managing peak demand. Attention was also drawn to the smooth operation of power generation units. The Minister instructed officials to carry out preventive maintenance on equipment to avoid technical failures that could disrupt supply during this critical period.
Andhra Pradesh has a diverse power generation portfolio, including thermal, hydro, and renewable sources. During periods of peak demand, the state relies on a combination of its own generation, central power allocations, and market purchases. The Term-Ahead Market allows utilities to procure electricity for shorter durations, providing flexibility to manage sudden demand spikes.
Among the officials present at the meeting were AP-Transco Joint Managing Director G. Surya Sai Praveenchand and other senior officers from state power utilities. The meeting reviewed current demand patterns, availability of power, and the readiness of generation infrastructure to handle further increases in consumption.
The 270 MU milestone reflects a significant rise from typical daily consumption levels, underscoring the pressure that extreme weather events can place on public infrastructure. As El Nino conditions persist, the state government continues to monitor the situation closely, with the Energy Department remaining on alert to adjust procurement and generation strategies as needed.
