Demand side management and load control — An Indian experience

In the Indian power scenario Demand Side Management or DSM as popularly known has assumed a significant role in the recent five-year plans. Over the years power development has seen generation addition manifold along with expansion in transmission and distribution system. Optimum utilization of resources in overall sense, however, calls for managing the demand also for proper capacity utilization. This is valid even when both energy and peak shortage exists. More of course will be the pressure when the former is significantly reduced, but the latter is present, thus calling for efficiently managing the system instead of addition in facilities. Besides this, reduction in losses both in terms of power and energy or in other words enhancement in efficiency in load vis-à-vis associated delivery system is further an important step in DSM. Indian power sector has realized these aspects, estimated benefits accruable, and taken steps to achieve success.