KATHMANDU: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) said that the country's energy consumption peaked on Sunday at 2,316 megawatts, setting a new record. 51,692 MWh was the total energy demand reported by the NEA. Of this, 12,981 MWh came from NEA and its subsidiary enterprises, 29,829 MWh from commercial hydropower firms, 375 MWh from interruptions, 44 MWh from imports, and 12,683 MWh from exports to India.

The highest electricity consumption recorded was 1,876 MW on June 27, 2022. Rising summertime temperatures are to blame for the most recent surge since they lead to increased use of electrical appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, fans, and coolers. Though it has started in certain areas, the monsoon has not yet reached all sections of the nation equally.

The NEA spokeswoman, Chandan Kumar Ghosh, stated that power consumption peaks during the day and lasts until 8 PM, with a surplus supply at night. The beginning of the monsoon has increased energy output due to greater water levels in rivers and streams. Ghosh suggested that enough rain in the country's western areas might boost productivity even further.

With the rise in electricity production, imports have significantly decreased while exports have grown. The NEA reported a drastic drop in daily electricity imports to 44 MWh, compared to over 8,000 MWh in the past year. Additionally, the NEA has begun exporting surplus electricity during the night, with exports to India rising to 12,683 MWh since late May.

The NEA has authorized the export of 656 MW from 15 hydropower plants in Nepal to India's competitive market. Between mid-July 2023 and mid-January 2024, Nepal sold electricity worth Rs 12.40 billion to India, a 47.97 percent increase from the same period the previous year. Conversely, the NEA imported electricity worth Rs 15.21 billion to meet winter demand, down from Rs 19.44 billion the previous year.