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India’s power demand hits record 270.82 GW amid heatwave

Author: TDG Network
Last Updated: May 23, 2026 01:02:16 IST

New Delhi: India’s daytime peak electricity demand touched a record 270.82 gigawatts (GW) on May 21 as an intense heatwave pushed cooling demand sharply higher across the country.

The Ministry of Power said electricity demand had broken all previous records over the past four days, driven by rising temperatures and severe summer conditions.

“Due to the intense heat wave in the country, the demand for electricity is also increasing,” the ministry said in a post on X.

According to the ministry, daytime peak demand stood at 257.37 GW on May 18, rose to 260.45 GW on May 19, climbed further to 265.44 GW on May 20, and reached 270.82 GW on May 21.

Peak daytime demand is usually recorded between 2 pm and 4 pm, when temperatures are at their highest and the use of air conditioners, coolers and fans rises significantly.

The surge comes as several parts of the country continue to reel under prolonged heatwave conditions, putting pressure on electricity supply systems and grid management.

However, the ministry said the power supply situation remained under control and adequate arrangements had been made to meet demand across the country.

“Although we are prepared to supply electricity as required, due to the intense summer, let us all try to use electricity wisely and judiciously,” the ministry said.

The government is closely monitoring electricity demand and generation trends during the summer, when high temperatures typically lead to a surge in power consumption across residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

 

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