New Delhi

India’s peak power demand eased to 238.15 GW on Sunday, down from the record 256 GW registered a day earlier, as most commercial and industrial establishments remained closed.

According to Power Ministry data, the peak power demand met — the highest electricity supplied in a day — stood at 237.21 GW, leaving a shortfall of 0.93 GW on Sunday.

The country’s peak demand had surged to an all-time high of 256 GW on Saturday, surpassing the previous record of 252.07 GW achieved the day before.

Last summer, the highest peak demand was 242.77 GW in June 2025, though it remained below the government’s estimate of 277 GW. In 2024, peak demand touched 250 GW in May, then a record, exceeding the earlier high of 243.27 GW set in September 2023.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast a harsh summer this year. Experts said electricity demand is likely to keep rising in May and June as heat waves boost the use of cooling appliances such as air conditioners and desert coolers.

They noted that demand is steadily moving closer to the Power Ministry’s projected summer peak of 270 GW as temperatures continue to climb.

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Peak electricity consumption has risen sharply through April. The highest supply stood at 239.70 GW on April 22 and increased to 240.12 GW on April 23. In the first half of the month, however, daily peak demand remained below the 235.32 GW recorded in April 2025.