Ranchi is currently in need of 367 megawatts of electricity during peak hours. However, this demand is expected to surge in the coming years. By the year 2032-33, Ranchi Mega City is projected to require 509 megawatts of electricity. To meet this demand, fundamental infrastructure development will be undertaken by JBVNL (Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited).
In a recent meeting with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in New Delhi, P.K. Srivastava, the General Manager of Ranchi Area Board, presented reports on the electricity consumption over the past 10 years and the anticipated demand for the next 10 years.
The CEA convened to discuss power demand forecasts for the Mega Cities of Eastern India, and Ranchi has been recognized as one such Mega City. Consequently, a report on its future power demand was requested. During the meeting, it was disclosed that all LT lines in Ranchi will be converted into underground cables in the future. Additionally, the capacity of power substations and transformers will be increased. Plans for these upgrades are currently being formulated.
In 2011, the demand for electricity in Ranchi was 276 megawatts. This demand increased to 313 megawatts in 2019-20. By March 2023-24, the peak demand had risen to 353 megawatts, reaching 367 megawatts by April 2024. Projections indicate that by 2025-26, the demand will rise to 379 megawatts, reaching 509 megawatts by 2032-33.
Households and industrial consumers are the largest consumers of electricity in Ranchi. Currently, domestic consumers account for approximately 42.78% of electricity consumption, while industrial consumers account for 38.86%. However, only 0.14% of electricity is utilized for irrigation purposes. By 2032-33, it is estimated that domestic consumers will account for 43.95%, industrial consumers for 36.56%, and irrigation for 0.17% of electricity consumption.
Efforts are underway to reduce T&D (Transmission and Distribution) losses in Ranchi Mega City in the future. Currently, Ranchi experiences losses of around 17%. However, by 2032-33, these losses are expected to be reduced to 9.95%.
As Ranchi’s population and industrialization continue to grow, ensuring a stable and sufficient power supply will be crucial for its development and prosperity.
