India's electricity demand grows at slowest pace in six years in 2019

15 Jan 2020 Evaluate

The Central Electricity Authority in its latest data has showed that India's annual electricity demand grew at its slowest pace in six years in 2019 amid a broader economic slowdown that led to a drop in sales of everything from cars to cookies and also to factories cutting jobs. Electricity demand is seen as an important indicator of industrial output in the country and a sustained decline could mean a further slowdown in the economy.

Data showed that India's power demand grew at 1.1% in 2019, the slowest pace of growth since a 1% uptick seen in 2013. The power demand growth slowdown in 2013 was preceded by three strong years of consumption growth of 8% or more. In December 2019, the country's power demand fell 0.5% from the year-earlier period, representing the fifth straight month of decline, compared with a 4.3% fall in November.

In October, power demand had fallen 13.2% from a year earlier, its steepest monthly decline in more than 12 years, as a slowdown in Asia's third-largest economy deepened. Industry accounts for more than two-fifths of India's annual electricity consumption, while homes account for nearly a fourth and agriculture more than a sixth. The slower demand growth is a blow for many debt-laden power producers, who are facing financial stress and are owed over $11 billion by state-run distribution companies.

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