As Chandigarh temperature soars, city’s power demand touches a high

In mid-May, the power demand in Chandigarh was 340 MW and crossed 400 MW from 260 MW, according to officials of the power department.

2 min readChandigarhUpdated: May 23, 2024 02:56 PM IST

Amid the intense heat wave across North India, the demand for power in Chandigarh on Wednesday crossed 400 megawatt after the highest recorded in 2019. In mid-May, the power demand in Chandigarh was 340 MW and crossed 400 MW from 260 MW, according to officials of the power department.

“On Wednesday, the peak power demand touched 425 MW which is the highest of this season,” said C B Ojha, Chief Engineer, Chandigarh administration.

A senior official of the engineering department of the Union Territory told The Indian Express the power demand in Chandigarh touched 430 MW in 2019.

Amid soaring temperatures, houses with a sanctioned load of four air-conditioners now have around 8 ACs thereby increasing the load. Amidst this rising demand, some sectors are reeling under outages as the Chandigarh administration has been forced to bring in power cuts for around one hour every day.

Chandigarh doesn’t generate power

There are more than 2.47 lakh power consumers in Chandigarh, of which 2.14 lakh or roughly 87 per cent are domestic users. Chandigarh spends approximately Rs 640 crore every year to purchase at Rs 3.26 paise per unit.

The electricity department does not have a power generation source and buys its power through its allocation from the Central generating stations (CGS) — the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), and the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd (THDC).

To meet increased demand during summers, the department sometimes procures un-requisitioned surplus power usually from power plants at Dadri, Jhajjar, Unchahar-I and Unchahar-II, among others.

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According to officials, this unallocated (or extra) power quota has increased from 9 per cent to 14 per cent this year.

Chandigarh red alert

The Chandigarh Meteorological Department has already issued a red alert in Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana until May 24 and predicted that the temperature may touch 44 to 46 degree Celsius. Last Friday, Chandigarh recorded this season’s hottest day as the maximum temperature touched 44.5 degree — the first time in the last 13 years since the record was maintained by the MeT Department.

Following the alert, the Chandigarh administration advanced the summer break for schools.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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