After PM’s call, energy authorities make plans- THE HINDU-04-04-2020

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for switching off electric lights at homes across the nation for nine minutes at 9 p. on April 5, as a mark of demonstrating a collective will to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, has prompted energy authorities to swing into action. Modi’s call pertains only to the domestic lighting load and does not cover electricity consumption by the domestic category on account of use of refrigerators or air-conditioners or television sets, the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, observed. Energy industry officials added that the move is not likely to cause any major disruption in the power distribution system.

If you take Tamil Nadu, for instance, the share of domestic consumers in overall electricity consumption is about 18%. At the all-India level, it is 24%, according to “Energy Statistics 2019,” a document published by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. In India, the evening peak demand is measured at what is recorded at 7 p. An official said that Tamil Nadu may see a maximum drop of 2,000 MW in demand during the nine-minute-period, after which there would likely be a surge.