Dehradun, June 22 -- A sharp rise in electricity demand during the month of June has emerged as a major challenge for Uttarakhand's energy sector, forcing Uttarakhand Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) to depend increasingly on costly power purchases from the open market. In addition, the UPCL has also resorted to some unannounced power cuts, particularly for certain industrial consumers in the state. With temperatures rising and consumption reaching new highs, the gap between the state's power demand and its own generation capacity has become more pronounced, raising concerns about long-term energy security. Delay in arrival of the monsoon in Uttarakhand and absence of pre-monsoon showers have further aggravated the crisis.
At present, the stat...