Heatwave Pushes India’s Electricity Demand to All-Time High of 252 GW

India’s electricity system recorded a new milestone on Friday as the country’s peak power demand surged to an all-time high of 252.07 GW , driven by an intensifying heatwave that has sharply increased the use of cooling appliances such as air conditioners and desert coolers, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Power.

The new peak, recorded on April 24, 2026, marks a significant rise from 240.12 GW on April 23 and 239.70 GW on April 22 , reflecting a rapid escalation in electricity consumption within just a few days. The latest figure has also surpassed the previous national record of 250 GW registered in May 2024 .

Officials noted that the surge in demand has been particularly strong across northern, western, central, and eastern parts of India , where persistent heatwave conditions have pushed daytime temperatures significantly above normal levels. Urban and semi-urban areas, in particular, have seen higher electricity consumption due to widespread use of air-conditioning systems in households, offices, and commercial establishments.

India’s total installed power generation capacity currently stands at over 450 GW , which includes thermal, renewable, nuclear, and hydro sources. While the system has so far been able to meet the rising demand, the sharp seasonal spike underscores the increasing strain on the grid during extreme weather conditions.

The Ministry of Power had earlier projected a peak summer demand of around 270 GW for the current season. However, despite the rapid rise in consumption, actual demand has remained below that estimate so far.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that heatwave conditions are likely to persist across large parts of northwest, central, and eastern India through the weekend , with expectations of further intensification in May and June. Energy experts believe that electricity demand may continue to rise in the coming weeks as reliance on cooling appliances increases.

In the previous summer season, peak demand stood at 242.77 GW in June 2025 , while earlier highs included 243.27 GW in September 2023 , highlighting a steady upward trend in power consumption across the country in recent years.