Is Power Demand Decreasing in Tamil Nadu Due to Cool Weather?

Chennai, July 24 (NationPress) With cloudy skies and cooler temperatures across Tamil Nadu in recent days, the state's electricity demand has significantly dropped. On Tuesday, the peak power demand decreased to 17,001 megawatts (MW), a sharp decline from 18,853 MW recorded on the same day last week. Daily energy consumption also fell to 370 million units (MUs), compared to 415 MUs during the same period last year.

Unlike last year, when extreme heatwaves caused a surge in power usage, this summer has been characterized by intermittent rainfall across the state, including Chennai.

The drop in temperature has provided much-needed relief to residents and alleviated the burden on the state's power infrastructure. During the first two weeks of July, temperatures in several regions approached nearly 40 degrees Celsius, driving daily consumption above 400 MUs. However, recent weather changes have ushered in cooler days.

On Tuesday, Chennai recorded a maximum temperature of just 31 degrees Celsius—4.5 degrees lower than the seasonal average.

The Regional Meteorological Centre has predicted light to moderate rainfall along with possible thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas of the state on Wednesday, keeping skies predominantly cloudy.

A senior official from the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) attributed the demand decline to a reduced use of air conditioning units by households and lower agricultural consumption.

“During rain, residential consumers typically minimize the use of cooling appliances. Additionally, widespread rainfall has lowered irrigation needs, reducing the load from agricultural pump sets,” the official stated.

However, the official noted that this decline in demand is temporary. “Once the rain ceases and temperatures rise again, power consumption is expected to increase,” they added.

M. Manikandan, a local dealer of electrical appliances, reported a noticeable decrease in the sales of air conditioners and coolers due to the prevailing cool weather throughout the state. He mentioned that the unseasonal chill and sporadic rains have diminished the demand for cooling devices, which usually see a spike during this time of year.

“Compared to last month, there has been a significant drop in customer interest for air conditioners and coolers,” Manikandan remarked. “The weather has been unusually pleasant, which is impacting our business.” Nevertheless, he remains hopeful that sales will rebound once temperatures start to rise again. “This is merely a temporary phase. We anticipate demand to increase once the weather normalizes,” he added.