Laxmi Puja day electricity demand peaked at 1,602 MW

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov. 5: On the day of Laxmi Puja of Tihar this year, peak demand for electricity in the country was recorded at1,602 megawatts.

According to the Nepal Electricity Authority, the peak demand for electricity on the day of Laxmi Puja Thursday (October 31) at 6:25 PM was recorded at 1,602 MW across the country. 

This is 164 MW higher than the demand recorded on the day of Laxmi Puja last year.

The electricity peak demand on the day of Laxmi Puja, which fell on November 12, 2023 last year, was 1,438 MW.

As industries and factories are closed during Tihar, the recorded peak demand is from household customers. 

The peak demand on the day of Laxmi Puja was covered through power generation from power plants within the country, said the NEA. 

Similarly, around 253 megawatts of surplus electricity after meeting the domestic demand was exported to India during peak hours. 

Last year, 517 MW electricity was exported on the day of Laxmi Puja. 

Due to the damage of hydropower plants and transmission lines caused by the floods this year, the power generation of 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi, about 200 MW connected to the Kabeli Corridor Transmission Line and some other small hydropower projects has been stopped.

Due to this, this year's electricity export has been affected.

On the day of Laxmi Puja, total electricity demand in the system, including export has been recorded at 1,855 MW. 

Last year, the peak demand of the system was 1,955 MW. 

This year, on the day of Laxmi Puja, the peak demand for electricity of Kathmandu Valley has been recorded at 390 MW. Last year, it was 366 MW.