Owing to shortage of fuel like coal and natural gas, the country faced a peak power shortage of over 9,000 mw in April 2013.

Latest data by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) shows peak power deficit, or shortage in electricity supply when the demand is at its highest, stood at 6.9 per cent or 9,020 mw in April 2013.

Of the peak power demand of 130,676 mw in April 2013, 121,656 mw was met. According to CEA, as many as 19 power stations in the country had coal stocks for less than a week.

Data, however, revealed that Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab, Sikkim, Dadra and Nagar Haveli faced no power shortage. On the other hand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha and West Bengal faced marginal shortage.

The worst sufferers were Jammu & Kashmir that recorded a deficit of 25 per cent, followed by Bihar (20.8 per cent) and Karnataka (18.7 per cent).

Not only Karnataka, the other southern states collectively recorded a deficit of 15.3 per cent in the region, as per the data.

During the month of March the peak power deficit stood at 9,482 mw or 7.4 per cent.