India’s Power Demand Soars Amid Heat Wave
India experienced a record peak power demand of 252.07 GW on Friday, driven by a severe heat wave, as more people turned to air conditioners and coolers to cope with the rising temperatures, according to the latest data from the power ministry.
This milestone surpasses the previous record of 250 GW set in May 2024. The new high was recorded on April 24, exceeding the 240.12 GW noted just a day before and rising from 239.70 GW noted earlier on April 22.
While the power ministry initially projected a peak demand of 270 GW for this summer, actual figures have fallen below expectations. Last summer, the peak demand reached 242.77 GW during June 2025.
During the first half of April, the demand was lower than the 235.32 GW marked in April 2025. Experts anticipate that electricity usage may continue to climb due to the ongoing heat wave, as both households and businesses rely heavily on cooling appliances to tackle the rising heat.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of persistent heatwave conditions across many parts of northwest, central, and eastern India through the weekend. Experts suggest that this summer could be particularly harsh, with the effects becoming more pronounced in May and June.
Previously, a record peak of around 250 GW was logged in May 2024, and the peak demand had reached 243.27 GW in September 2023. During the last summer season starting in April 2025, peak demand in June fell short of the government’s forecast of 277 GW.
