India Power Demand Hits Record 271 GW in Hot Weather

India's power demand reached a record 271 gigawatts on Thursday, the fourth consecutive day that peak demand during solar hours set a new high, the power ministry said. Hot weather increased air-conditioning use and pushed total generation to a new all-time high. Thermal plants, which rely mainly on coal, met 62 percent of demand.

Solar power supplied 22 percent of electricity.

Hydro and wind each contributed 5 percent. After milder temperatures limited demand growth in the fiscal year ending March 2026 to the lowest level in six years, consumption has risen sharply with the start of summer heat waves.

5 percent in the April-to-June quarter, according to sources cited by the Economic Times in April. India continues to add renewable capacity, but coal remains the dominant source during peak summer months.