Punjab has seen more increase in electricity demand in December this year compared to winter last year. It is being connected with 300 units of free electricity being provided in the state. According to official data, in the last two months, 91 percent of people in the state have zero electricity bill. Last year on December 3 compared to the same day, the demand for electricity has increased by 19 percent. Last year consumption was 6,033 MW while this year it was 7156.
According to the report of Indian Airways, the electricity consumption on December 1 till December 25 was 7205 MW, which has increased by 17 percent compared to last year’s 6170 MW. Demand on December 2 stood at 6771 MW as against 5966 MW last year, registering a growth of 13 per cent. Similarly, the demand on December 7 was 7783 MW as against 6893 MW last year, which shows an increase of 13 per cent. Demand rose to 8,008 MW on December 24, from 6,789 MW on the same day last year. An increase of 18 percent was recorded in this.
Only two days on 18th and 20th December in Punjab saw a reduction of 4 percent in consumption on each day compared to these days last year. While the demand was 6951 MW on December 18, last year it was 7204 MW. The demand on December 20 was 6596 MW compared to 6889 MW last year. Officials of the electricity department said that if there is an increase in the demand for electricity even by 5 per cent, then the change is not considered big, but there have been days when the demand has increased by 19 per cent or more.