Peak Demand Hits 10,200 MW; WBSEDCL Issues Load-Shedding Warning

West Bengal’s power grid is currently operating under a “Level 1 Emergency” after peak electricity demand touched 10,200 MW at 11:30 PM last night. This is the highest demand ever recorded in the state’s history, driven by the relentless heatwave and the massive power requirements for the ongoing election logistics.

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL) has issued a “voluntary curtailment” notice to industrial units in the Durgapur-Asansol belt to prioritize residential and election-related supply. However, localized transformer failures have been reported from South Kolkata, specifically in Gariahat and Jadavpur, where the aging underground cabling is unable to handle the continuous high-amperage load.

The ECI has reiterated its “Zero Load-Shedding” mandate for polling stations and EVM strongrooms. To comply, the state power ministry has activated standby gas-based turbines, though this has led to a significant spike in the cost of power generation. If the heatwave continues into next week, experts warn that “scheduled load-shedding” might become unavoidable for the general public during the non-polling hours to prevent a total grid collapse.