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India's Power Demand Soars to Record Highs Amidst Cold Snap
10 Feb
Summary
- India's power demand reached a record 143 billion units in January 2026.
- Severe cold waves in northern and eastern regions drove increased heating demand.
- Renewable energy generation saw a 10% year-on-year increase in January.
India's power consumption hit an all-time high in January 2026, with demand climbing to nearly 143 billion units. This represents a 4.5% increase compared to the previous year, marking the highest January consumption on record. The primary driver for this surge was intense cold wave conditions affecting northern and eastern parts of the country, significantly boosting heating requirements.
Amidst this elevated demand, overall power generation rose by 6% year-on-year to 156 billion units. Renewable energy sources demonstrated robust growth, increasing by 10% from the previous year, a trend sustained since April 2025. Coal-based generation also saw a 5% rise, while hydro and nuclear power generation increased by 11.8% and 5.3%, respectively.
Despite the increased generation, electricity distribution companies (discoms) may encounter challenges. Issues like forced outages and reserve shutdowns can reduce available power, potentially leading discoms to procure additional energy from the power exchange to meet their obligations.
