Tamil Nadu is preparing to meet an all-time high electricity demand of 22,000 megawatts (MW) during the upcoming summer, announced Electricity Minister V. Senthil Balaji on Friday. The minister shared the update following a review meeting with top officials at the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) headquarters in Chennai.
The state had earlier recorded its highest-ever electricity demand of 20,830 MW on May 2, 2024, and this year’s demand is expected to surpass that figure.
“We identified overloading in 6,536 transformers ahead of summer. Of these, 5,407 have already been fixed and the remaining will be addressed soon,” said Senthil Balaji.
He also highlighted Tamil Nadu’s swift recovery efforts after Cyclone Fengal, during which 12,265 electricity poles were damaged and replaced in record time.
Smart Meters and Monthly Billing
The state’s plan to implement monthly electricity billing is back on track. The initial smart meter tender was cancelled due to cost disagreements between bidders and TNEB, but a new tender process has been restarted. Once smart meters are installed across the state, the monthly billing system promised in the 2021 election manifesto will be introduced.
Focus on Renewable Energy and Storage
The minister outlined major green energy initiatives as part of Tamil Nadu’s long-term power strategy. TNEB is preparing to float tenders for:
- 14,500 MW Pumped Storage Projects
- 1,000 MW Battery Storage Systems
These projects are currently awaiting approval from the state finance department. Additionally, the state government plans to set up solar parks in every district to increase renewable energy generation.
Consumer Grievances and Improvements
In January alone, Minnagam, the consumer complaint call center, received 2,312 complaints. Balaji urged officials to proactively resolve issues and bring down complaint numbers through infrastructure improvements and timely action.