Chandigarh Power Demand Hits Season High of 461 MW as Heatwave and Humidity Drive Electricity Consumption

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As relentless heat and sticky nights tightened their grip over Chandigarh, the city’s electricity network faced its biggest test of the summer on Tuesday when power demand surged to 461 MW, the highest recorded this season and the strongest signal yet that residents are leaning heavily on cooling appliances to cope with the weather.

The fresh peak comes at a time when the southwest monsoon continues to stay away from the region, extending an uncomfortable spell of high temperatures and humidity that has transformed air-conditioners, coolers and fans from conveniences into necessities for thousands of households and businesses across the city.

Data reviewed on Tuesday showed that Chandigarh’s electricity consumption has climbed rapidly over the past few days. After remaining close to the 400 MW mark in the final week of June, demand accelerated sharply as temperatures remained elevated both during the day and after sunset. The city recorded 412 MW on June 28 before climbing to 437 MW a day later and eventually touching 461 MW on Tuesday.

The latest figure places Chandigarh only a fraction below last summer’s all-time seasonal high of 465 MW recorded on June 12, 2025, indicating that the city could surpass that benchmark if weather conditions remain unchanged over the coming days.

Energy experts point out that electricity demand patterns in Chandigarh have evolved significantly in recent years. Earlier, consumption typically eased during nighttime hours as temperatures dropped. This summer, however, humid nights have kept cooling systems running almost continuously, placing sustained pressure on the distribution network and flattening the traditional demand curve.

Officials at Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL), the company responsible for supplying electricity in the Union Territory, said the system successfully handled the record load without major disruptions at the grid level. According to the utility, advance preparation before the summer season played a crucial role in maintaining stability despite rising consumption.

The company stated that preventive maintenance of transformers and feeders had been completed before peak demand months arrived, while monitoring teams and maintenance crews remained available around the clock to respond quickly to faults and complaints. CPDL also appealed to consumers to use electricity responsibly and adopt energy-efficient appliances wherever possible in order to support grid reliability during periods of extreme demand.

Yet the experience on the ground appeared less uniform across all parts of the city. Residents from several localities reported temporary outages, voltage fluctuations and repeated tripping over recent days, suggesting that while the larger transmission system remained stable, neighbourhood-level infrastructure may have faced stress as simultaneous demand from homes and commercial establishments increased.

For many residents, even short interruptions became difficult to manage as indoor temperatures climbed rapidly during power cuts. The complaints highlighted the challenge facing urban electricity providers across India as changing weather patterns and increased dependence on cooling appliances continue to push city grids closer to their operational limits.

The current summer also marks the second peak season under Chandigarh’s privatised power distribution model. Since February 1, 2025, electricity distribution in the city has been managed by CPDL, a subsidiary of CESC under the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, following the transfer of operations from the erstwhile government-run utility under the UT Administration’s privatisation initiative.

The transition to private management was accompanied by promises of infrastructure modernisation and improved service reliability. According to company figures, more than Rs 50 crore has already been invested in strengthening Chandigarh’s electricity network ahead of high-demand months.

As part of the upgrade programme, four new 20 MVA transformers have been installed at grid substations to improve system capacity and facilitate better load balancing across sectors. The utility has also upgraded or replaced more than 100 distribution transformers in different parts of the city to reduce pressure on older infrastructure.

In addition, the network expansion has included the laying of 21 kilometres of high-tension lines and 30 kilometres of low-tension lines aimed at improving connectivity and reducing technical bottlenecks during peak usage periods.

CPDL currently serves nearly 2.36 lakh consumers in Chandigarh, including more than two lakh residential connections alongside commercial, industrial and agricultural users. The company has also highlighted its energy mix as a key component of its long-term strategy, stating that nearly 65 per cent of the power supplied to the city now comes from renewable and hydroelectric sources, with thermal and nuclear generation accounting for the remainder.

Weather forecasts offer little immediate relief. With temperatures expected to remain high and the monsoon yet to make its arrival in the region, officials believe Chandigarh’s electricity demand may continue to climb in the days ahead.

If that happens, Tuesday’s record may prove to be only a temporary milestone in what is rapidly becoming one of the city’s most demanding summers for its power infrastructure in recent years.