No power cuts despite record demand, officials call for energy savings

Sri Lanka reached its highest electricity demand on Monday, October 16, due to ongoing dry weather affecting the national power system, according to Dr. B.L. Pradeep Priyadarshana Perera, the Chairman of the National System Operator (Pvt.) Ltd. During a media briefing at the Department of Government Information, Dr. Perera stated that the peak demand hit 3,089 megawatts, setting a new record for the nation. Since that day, the daily electricity demand has consistently been around 3,000 megawatts, putting ongoing pressure on the power grid. Despite this increased demand, officials have successfully avoided any power cuts. Dr. Perera explained that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has been providing the necessary fuel for electricity generation, which has helped maintain a steady power supply. He noted that the period from February to April usually sees dry weather, which decreases hydropower production while electricity use rises. “The dry spell has caused a significant increase in demand,” he said, mentioning that the system managed to produce 60.56 gigawatt-hours of electricity on the peak demand day. Since then, electricity generation has remained stable at about 58 to 59 gigawatt-hours, enabling authorities to meet the national demand without interruptions. However, Dr. Perera stressed the need for careful management and encouraged everyone to conserve electricity to help keep the grid stable during this tough time. “As the system control center, we urge all consumers to use electricity as efficiently as possible. This is a responsibility we all share as a country right now,” he added.