Data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) shows that the peak power demand in the country stood at 135,453 mw in 2012-13 compared to the total power availability of 123,294 mw.

This shows that the country faced power deficit of over 12,000 mw during the peak hours in the last financial year. The shortfall in generation capacity during peak hours when electricity consumption is the maximum is said to be peak power deficit.

Demand for electricity exceeded supply in the southern region by 6,052 mw in peak hours during the year compared to the availability of 31,586 mw.

The main reasons for the deficit are gas, coal shortage and less rains in the eastern and north-eastern regions.

The worst affected states were Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Bihar with a peak power deficit of over 20 per cent during the previous fiscal year.

The least peak power deficit of 1.5 per cent was witnessed in Western states like Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Goa.

Eastern region (Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, etc) recorded a shortage of 7.4 per cent or 1,240 mw during the year (April-March). Northern region suffered an overall shortage of 8.9 per cent or over 4,000 mw during the period.