Goa power demand extends until 1am due to heat
Electricity demand in Goa is staying high until 1am on hot nights, according to the electricity department.
The electricity department in Goa has reported that power demand is remaining elevated until 1am on hot nights. This is a change from the previous peak-consumption window of approximately 6pm to 10pm, according to Urban Acres.
Superintending engineer Rajiv Samant stated that the department saw a maximum peak-hour demand of 900MW in April and 860MW on October 22. He noted that peak load used to end around 10pm but is now persisting until 1am.
Officials attributed the shift to prolonged hot weather, increased air-conditioner use, tourism, rapid urbanisation, and longer operating hours for businesses. Samant said that people cannot sustain the heat without air-conditioners in every flat.
Goa has over seven lakh electricity consumers, including 5.76 lakh domestic consumers. Peak demand was 714MW in 2021-22 and has seen annual increases of 2.9 per cent in 2022-23, 6.5 per cent in 2023-24, 5.1 per cent in 2024-25, and 4.1 per cent in 2025-26.
The department projects peak demand will reach 1,033MW by 2029-30. To manage this, the government intends to install battery energy storage systems with a total capacity of 1,000MWh at various substations by 2029-30.
These batteries will be charged during the day and discharged during evening peak periods. The department said this system is intended to lower the requirement for expensive power purchases from electricity exchanges.