No power cuts, but conserve electricity

Authorities assured yesterday (24) that uninterrupted power supply will be maintained despite mounting pressure on the system, but urged the public to cut consumption and shift usage away from peak hours to reduce fuel use.

Speaking at a media briefing, National System Operator (NSOPL) Chairperson Dr. Pradeep Perera said the grid is being carefully managed amid dry weather conditions and fuel constraints.

Hydropower reserves currently stand at 675 gigawatt hours (GWh), with available capacity being conserved until the next monsoon, he said.

He noted that electricity demand has surged in recent weeks, with peak demand reaching 3,089 megawatts (MW) on Monday (23), one of the highest recorded levels. Daily consumption has remained around 58 to 60 GWh.

“Despite dry weather and fuel pressures, we have managed to meet demand without power cuts, with fuel supplied by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) as required,” he said.

Dr. Perera urged the public to use electricity sparingly to ease pressure on the system.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) Chairperson Dr. Wijendra J. Bandara said daytime generation remains stable due to solar power, but managing evening peak demand has become critical.

“Solar power supports daytime supply, but between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., especially 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., electricity must be generated using fuel at a high cost,” he said.

He called on consumers to shift electricity use to daytime hours to ease peak demand.

Activities such as washing clothes, operating washing machines, and charging electric vehicles and mobile devices should be carried out during the day, he said.

Dr. Bandara added that even small actions by consumers could significantly reduce demand.

“With seven million consumers, if each turns off an eight-watt bulb, about 45 MW can be reduced during peak hours. If fans and refrigerators are limited between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., we can achieve substantial savings,” he said.

He noted that such measures could reduce demand by over 280 MW daily and help maintain system stability.

Source - The Morning