Can Uttar Pradesh S Power Network Handle Growing Load

Even as several parts of Uttar Pradesh continue to witness complaints of transformer failures, feeder tripping and local outages during peak summer demand, power utilities have projected an 11% rise in connected load and nearly 12% increase in electricity sale... Even as several parts of Uttar Pradesh continue to witness complaints of transformer failures, feeder tripping and local outages during peak summer demand, power utilities have projected an 11% rise in connected load and nearly 12% increase in electricity sales by FY2026-27 compared to 2024-25, raising fresh questions about whether the state’s distribution infrastructure can cope with the rising demand. The projections come amid repeated reports of localised outages and infrastructure stress during summer peaks despite significant expenditure on system strengthening. While domestic consumers are set to continue to be the biggest electricity users, agriculture and industrial consumers are also projected to contribute to the growing burden on the network. Data recently placed by the UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) before the UP Electricity Regulatory Commission for tariff determination show that the total connected load across the state’s five discoms is projected to rise from 8.17 crore kW in FY 2024-25 to 9.08 crore kW in FY 2026-27, an increase of around 11%. Electricity sales are estimated to increase from 1,27,406 million units (MU) to 1,43,014 MU, nearly 12% higher than FY25 levels. The state’s distribution and transmission capacity was already lagging behind the actual peak load, according to UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad chairman Avdhesh Kumar Verma. “The utilities need to augment their capacities to handle the increasing power load in the time to come so that there is no gap between the sanctioned demand and the actual demand,” he demanded. Domestic category to remain biggest pressure point The data show that the household segment will continue to exert the largest burden on the network. The LMV-1 domestic category is projected to account for nearly 61% of total connected load. Connected load is expected to rise from 5.03 crore kW in FY25 to 5.53 crore kW in FY27. Power sales in the segment are projected to increase from 60,715 MU to 68,194 MU. The significance of the domestic category goes beyond its size. Unlike industrial consumers where loads are generally measured and monitored more accurately, actual domestic demand can sometimes exceed officially recorded figures. Officials said that increasing use of air-conditioners, coolers, water pumps and other high-load appliances without corresponding enhancement of sanctioned load can create hidden pressure on local networks. In some areas, unauthorised connections and power theft can further widen the gap between recorded and actual consumption. The mismatch often manifests itself at the local level through overloaded transformers and feeder breakdowns even when overall system projections appear manageable. The UPPCL has already realised this fact and has decided to put up signboards on the overloaded transformers in theft-prone localities. Agriculture continues to be a major contributor to Uttar Pradesh’s demand profile, with private tube wells emerging as the second-largest connected load category after domestic consumers. The