India achieved its all-time highest peak electricity demand of 256.1 GW on April 25, 2026, surpassing the previous record of 250 GW recorded on May 30, 2024, according to power ministry data reported by Upstox. The record-breaking demand was met completely without any shortage, supported by record capacity addition of around 65 GW during FY 2025-26. Peak power demand was recorded at 255.85 GW on Monday, April 27, 2026, demonstrating sustained high demand levels throughout the period. The achievement is particularly significant as India has been dealing with a fuel crisis in light of the war in Iran, but managed to weather the lofty energy demands without any national shortage, no grid stress event, and no major transmission bottlenecks.
Power consumption in India witnessed over 4% year-on-year growth in April 2026, reaching 154 billion units compared to the same period in 2025, as reported by The Times of India. Despite this growth, officials noted that subdued temperatures during the first 10 days of the month due to spells of rain in parts of the country kept consumption in check. The average demand for the month was estimated at 229.2 GW, with four days during the month when demand crossed 250 GW, demonstrating the intensity of peak demand periods. This year's early and intense summer has led to an unprecedented rise in electricity consumption for April, usually a month with lower demand compared to May or June, as reported by multiple sources.
India ramped up coal and gas-fired power generation as peak electricity demand hit a record 256.1 GW over the weekend amid a heatwave, according to official data. Coal-fired generation was increased to around 187 GW, continuing to serve as the backbone of India's power generation, while about 9.6 GW of gas-fired capacity was operated to manage peak load, as per Grid-India data. NTPC, the country's largest thermal power producer, is procuring gas through the Indian Gas Exchange and operating plants as advised by grid authorities to ensure supply stability. State-run NTPC has ramped up output by operating plants at higher capacity and securing fuel supplies through domestic markets. Renewable energy, particularly solar, made a significant contribution, with solar energy contributing nearly 57 GW at the peak, which was about 22% of total supply.
Global weather agencies, including the World Meteorological Organization, have warned of a strong El Nino developing from next month, which could lead to hotter and drier conditions in parts of Asia, as reported by multiple sources. This could further increase electricity demand for cooling in India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has projected harsh summers this year, with experts stating that power demand will continue to rise, especially in May and June, due to heat waves. The India government expects peak electricity demand to reach around 270 GW this year, with the Central Electricity Authority predicting that peak demand in FY27 could reach a record level of 271GW. The shift toward induction cooking amid restricted LPG cylinder supply is expected to add up to 27GW to electricity demand this year, according to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. To ensure uninterrupted power supply, thermal power plants have deferred maintenance programs this summer and plans are underway to accelerate the addition of power generation capacity across various sources including thermal, solar, hydro and battery storage.
