Thus, the next step in reforming electricity market operations is to implement Market Based Economic Despatch (MBED)," the union power ministry said in a recent statement. This comes in the backdrop of India’s peak electricity demand falling during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, with commercial and industrial demand taking a hit after many factories closed. India registered a record high electricity demand of 189.6 gigawatt (GW) in January. Of the country's total electricity demand load pattern, industrial and agricultural consumption account for 41.16% and 17.69%, respectively. With the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic keeping a large part of India’s population indoors, the country’ electricity demand dipped in May, and this low power demand scenario is expected to continue till July.

Source: Mint June 04, 2021 10:51 UTC