THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Chennai crosses record 5,000 MW power demand amid outages CHENNAI:In a first, the capital's electricity demand crossed the 5,000 MW mark on Wednesday night, touching a record 5,014 MW, prompting the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL) to resort to brief shutdowns of select distribution transformers in a few localities to maintain grid stability. Though such load shedding was done in the past to maintain grid stability, such incidents were not officially revealed. The new high of 5,014 MW was registered around 10.30 pm on June 10, bettering the previous high of 4,852 MW recorded on May 22, this year. In 2025, the city recorded peak demand of 4,663 MW on May 14. However, the unprecedented load on the distribution network led to localised outages at around 10 to 12 locations, particularly in rapidly growing suburban pockets and older parts of the city where infrastructure was under strain. According to the TNPDCL, one or two distribution transformers in a few expansion areas were temporarily switched off for 20 to 30 minutes following advice from the control centre to ensure feeder load stability at substations. Supply was restored after the brief interruptions.…

34 electricity substations to come up in city, three neighbouring districts This is to improve the distribution network in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram. City’s power demand crosses previous peak of 5,000 MW. While overall availability remains adequate, localised outages continue to occur: official

As Chennai sizzles at 42oc, power demand peaks at 3,738 MW Chennai On Tuesday, the city sizzled at 42 degree Celsius. The peak power demand surpassed the previous high of 3,660 MW on June 10 when the temperature was again 42 degree Celsius. A senior Tangedco official said that the steep rise in power demand was mainly due to domestic use of ACs. “The city power demand is mainly driven by domestic consumers than the industries. Due to the heatwave, this has shot up. Usually, power demand spikes at 10 pm and continues to remain high till 12-1 am,” the official said. The power load of an air conditioner is equal to the use of 25-30 tube lights, the official said, adding that not only has the number of homes having ACs gone up but also that more than one AC is installed in the homes. The rise in power demand has also resulted in power cuts during the night in various parts of the city. “When everyone switches on the ACs, the power load shoots up tripping the breakers,” the official said, acknowledging the increase in the complaints of power cuts, especially during the night time. “The power cuts, however, are specific to certain streets and not widespread,” he added. S Balachandr…

Chennai records historic power demand of 5,008 MW Chennai, June 12: Chennai has recorded its highest-ever electricity demand, reaching 5,008 megawatts (MW) amid intense summer heat, marking a new milestone in the city’s power consumption history. The surge in demand is attributed to the persistent rise in temperatures, leading to increased use of air conditioners, coolers, and fans across residential, commercial, and office spaces. This new peak surpasses the previous record of 4,809 MW registered in May 2026, highlighting the city’s rapidly growing energy needs. While the Tamil Nadu power utility has managed to meet the record demand, several areas in Chennai have reportedly experienced intermittent power outages, particularly during night hours, leading to public inconvenience and protests in some localities. Experts suggest that electricity demand may remain high in the coming weeks if the prevailing hot weather conditions continue. 008 MW Chennai records historic power demand of 5

Power demand in Chennai hits a new high of over 5,000 MW The demand was recorded on June 10, even as residents complain of power outages; previously, the maximum demand was 4,966 MW

At 20,974 MW, TN's power demand hits record high CHENNAI: After a gap of two years, Tamil Nadu’s power demand touched 20,974 MW on Thursday, setting a new all-time record. The previous peak demand was 20,840 MW, recorded on May 2, 2024. Officials said the demand is expected to rise further in the coming days due to the upcoming assembly election, the scorching summer and the IPL season. According to grid data from the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation accessed by TNIE, the state’s power consumption also reached a record 460.301 Million Units (MU) on Thursday. The earlier high was 454.320 MU, recorded on April 30, 2024. The state’s thermal power plants, with a total installed capacity of 5,120 MW, generated about 4,130 MW during the evening peak, which is around 81% of the total capacity. The total generation from these plants stood at 86.623 MU for the day. A senior official from the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) said the peak demand of 20,974 MW was recorded around 6.50 pm on Thursday. “Compared to the 2019 peak demand of 16,151 MW, the state has seen an increase of 4,823 MW over the years,” the official said. TNPDCL currently serves about 3.44 …