Rising Summer Heat Leads to Power Outages in Chennai
Chennai is experiencing unusually high summer temperatures this May, influenced by the ongoing El Niño weather pattern. Residents report power outages lasting between 40 minutes to an hour, especially affecting those working from home.
R. Hari, a South Chennai resident, noted, “There have been frequent power cuts over the past two days, making it tough to carry out my work.”
According to Grid-India, the nation’s peak power deficit reached about 2.57 gigawatts late Thursday. In response, the power ministry urged citizens to use electricity wisely during this intense summer season, stating, “We are ready to supply electricity as needed.”
Electricity shortages are especially common in the evenings, as the supply heavily relies on thermal and hydro sources, while daytime needs are partly met by solar energy. Disha Aggarwal, a senior program lead at the energy and environment think tank CEEW, emphasized the urgency of investing in battery storage systems to utilize surplus solar energy during the night, highlighting the internal pressure on India’s power system amid rising temperatures.
From now until May 27, meteorologists predict “heatwave to severe heatwave conditions” in New Delhi and northern and eastern regions. Many residents in New Delhi and nearby Noida took to social media to voice their frustrations over nighttime power cuts.
In Odisha, residents have also expressed their dissatisfaction with prolonged power outages during both day and night. As summer temperatures continue to rise, the urgency to address these energy challenges grows.
