While statistics show a marginal increase in power consumption in Delhi on the day the World Cup began, it hasn't shot up dramatically thereafter, even on hot days and when matches were on.

Instead, say Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) officials, cricket matches have resulted in lesser power consumption at workplaces with people tending to close shop early and heading homeward. At home, the family stays glued to the television set in one room. Thus, fans or air-conditions in other rooms stay switched off. Finally, the time-slot for the matches in India (between 3.30 pm and 11.30 pm), happens to be the same as the regular TV viewing hours in the country, with or without the World Cup.

``There is nothing on record suggesting an alarming rise in power consumption due to the cricket matches and increased television-viewing time,'' says Member (technical) DVB S P Aggarwal, adding, ``Infact, government offices, the major power consumers, are empty almost two hours before closing time on days when India plays''.

The trend is the same in the business establishments as well on most ``big match'' days. ``DVB surveys have also revealed that power consumption is minimal during weekends, when government offices are closed,'' he adds, pointing out that India had played most of its matches during the weekend.

Take for instance, May 26 when India thrashed Sri Lanka to register their biggest ever total in one-day cricket. DVB says 2,103 Mega Watts (MW) of power was consumed in Delhi on that day. Compare that with June 1, when no matches were played, but the Capital's power consumption was 2,259 MW in the evening.

Other factors too have contributed to the cause of cricket on television and ``manageable power requirements''. Most important among these is that the weather has been fairly good in the Capital since the second week of May.

In April and in the first week of May, the mercury hoveredaround 44-45 degrees Celsius and the Capital's power demand rose to between 2,100 MW and 2,300 MW daily, even touching 2,400 MW on April 26.

Then, in the second week on May, there were two thunder squalls spread over two days. The mercury started dipping, and on May 13, it came down to 35 degrees Celsius. Delhiites also started consuming less power; the DVB's electric meters registered 1,998 MW.

The World Cup began on May 14; power consumption went up to 2,201 MW. But then the day was warmer by three degrees Celsius. Next day, a Saturday and a holiday in most government offices, India played South Africa and lost narrowly. The temperature that day was 39 degrees. But this time the power consumption, according to the DVB, was only 2,018 MW, about 200 MW less than the previous day.y