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September heat sends India’s power demand soaring

By Sohail Khan 10 September 2026, 12:26 am

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Business News›Industry›Energy›Power›India’s power demand crosses 260 GW in September heat, coal stocks tighten

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India’s power demand crosses 260 GW in September heat, coal stocks tighten
Synopsis

India's peak power demand has significantly increased this September, exceeding last year's levels. Sultry weather and deficient rainfall are driving higher cooling and irrigation needs. This sustained demand has pressured thermal power projects as hydro generation slowed. Critically low coal inventories at many plants prompted increased supplies and improved rake loading. Northern Coalfields Ltd has boosted production and dispatches, easing supply disruptions for power plants.

New Delhi: India's peak power demand crossed 260 GW on September 8 after touching 257 GW a day earlier, with this demand remaining largely above 249 GW so far in September, an unusually high level for the month.

Last year, peak power demand in the same period was between 198 GW and 211 GW. The sultry weather and deficient rainfall as El Nino impact lifted cooling and irrigation-based need. "The deficient rain in some parts of the country has led to more demand for irrigation. This demand is coming mostly in morning hours," a government official said.

Also Read: India's power consumption rises nearly 13% to 169 billion units in August

The hydro power generation between September 1 and September 8 was 6.04 billion units, down around 10.3% year-on-year. For comparison, India's peak power demand had touched 271 GW in May, as summer saw higher than normal temperatures and more heat wave days this year. The sustained demand has also led to pressure on thermal power projects as hydro generation slowed, especially in the non-solar hours.

Around 58 thermal power plants have been operating with critically low coal inventories, because of higher demand and faster depletion of the fuel, along with seasonal slump in supplies led by rain in coal bearing areas. This has prompted the government and coal companies to increase supplies and improve rake loading. Coal stock at domestic coal-based power plants are at around 23 million tonnes.

Also Read: Energy efficiency: India's next strategic power resource

However as rain receded, as of September 6, coal rake loading to the power sector had risen to 444 rakes a day from 370 on September 3, according to the coal ministry. Stocks are expected to start moving further up in the next few days, a government official said. The combination of high demand and tighter plant level coal inventories leaves thermal generators with less room for prolonged maintenance or supply disruptions.

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