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Recovery in energy demand not abiding’:
Context
There is a need for sustained energy demand recovery which is still absent
What is the current scenario?
- The recent up-trend in electricity demand growth has led to a marginal improvement in the all India thermal PLF (plant load factor or capacity utilisation) to 59.9% for the first five months of 2017-18
- The recently introduced Saubhagya Scheme was launched in order to put a thrust on rural electrification which will improve the energy demand.
What are the concerned problems?
- A sustained demand recovery, however, is still absent
- Thus energy demand growth from the relatively high tariff paying industrial and commercial segments remained critical for both State distribution utilities and IPPs (Independent Power Producers)
- Also, the stressed thermal capacity in private IPP (independent power producers) segment remains sizeable at about 60 GW, despite the various policy level initiatives undertaken by the government.