Extreme summer heat is reshaping electricity consumption patterns across India.

Rising temperatures have sharply increased the use of cooling appliances, while power demand continues to break records across the country.

India recorded its highest-ever electricity demand for the third consecutive day on Wednesday.

According to the Union Power Ministry, peak demand during solar hours touched 265.44 GW at 3:45 pm.

Moreover, authorities met the entire demand without any supply shortage. This figure crossed Monday’s previous record of 260.45 GW. Earlier, the country logged 257.37 GW on May 18.

Meanwhile, electricity demand after sunset also reached a new milestone. Non-solar peak demand climbed to 247.21 GW at 10:29 pm on May 18.

Consequently, the rise highlighted growing pressure on the power system during night hours.

The surge mainly stems from widespread heatwave conditions across several states. Homes, offices and commercial spaces are heavily relying on air-conditioners, coolers and fans.

As a result, electricity consumption has increased rapidly in both urban and semi-urban regions.

The India Meteorological Department predicted above-normal temperatures across southern, northeastern and northwestern regions during May.

Furthermore, Odisha, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra may witness additional heatwave days this season.

The weather office also warned that northwestern, central and western India could experience intense heat during the second and fourth weeks of May.

However, intermittent rainfall and thunderstorms may offer temporary relief in some areas. Western disturbances could also help moderate temperatures occasionally.

Amid rising concerns, Minister of State Jitendra Singh urged citizens not to panic over heatwave forecasts.

Instead, he advised people to take standard summer precautions and remain alert during extreme weather conditions.

Although India’s grid continues to handle rising demand, pressure on infrastructure is becoming increasingly visible.

Overloaded transmission lines, limited energy storage and renewable power curtailments are creating operational challenges.

Therefore, experts believe the country must accelerate grid upgrades and storage expansion to avoid localised disruptions during future demand spikes.

India’s energy sector now faces a crucial balancing act.

While renewable generation supports daytime demand effectively, managing rising nighttime consumption remains a growing challenge for the country’s power infrastructure.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on January 18, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/472993