New Delhi: India’s national power grid faced its toughest test of the year as peak power demand hit a historic high of 252.07 GW on Friday, April 24. This record-shattering figure comes as an intensifying heatwave sweeps across North, Central, and Western India, forcing millions of households and commercial establishments to rely heavily on energy-intensive cooling devices like air conditioners and desert coolers. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Power, this mark surpasses the previous all-time peak of 250 GW recorded in May 2024.
The surge in demand has been rapid; the peak supply on April 23 was recorded at 240.12 GW, following 239.70 GW on April 22. While the current peak of 252.07 GW is the highest the country has ever seen, it remains below the government’s earlier projection of 270 GW for the 2026 summer season. Experts believe that with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting harsh conditions to persist through May and June, the grid may soon approach those estimated limits. Last year, the summer peak reached 242.77 GW in June 2025, but the early arrival of extreme heat this April has shifted the consumption curve significantly earlier.
The IMD has issued heatwave warnings for major parts of northwest and eastern India through the weekend, with several cities already recording temperatures above 44°C. Industry analysts suggest that the increased intensity of these conditions will lead to even more frequent use of high-power appliances, putting sustained pressure on the national electricity infrastructure. Despite the record numbers, the Ministry of Power has indicated that the supply remains stable and well-coordinated to prevent large-scale outages during this critical period.
