India’s electricity demand has registered a noticeable seasonal rebound this winter, with peak power load rising to around 236 gigawatts in December. After several months of relatively subdued consumption, colder weather has driven higher usage as households and businesses increase heating and lighting needs.
The surge marks a clear reversal of the trend seen earlier in the fiscal year, when peak demand consistently remained under 230 GW, and at times lagged compared with the same period last year. Increased winter demand has helped electricity consumption grow around 5 % year-on-year in December, indicating a renewed momentum in overall power usage.
Despite the rise in demand, spot power prices have stayed relatively stable in energy markets, suggesting balanced supply conditions so far. Meanwhile, additions to generation capacity, particularly from renewables and other sources, have accelerated, strengthening the grid’s ability to meet rising energy needs.
Growth in installed capacity is outpacing recent years, and coal stocks at thermal plants have also improved, contributing to reliable supply during the seasonal demand increase. The overall rise in winter demand underscores the importance of continued capacity expansion and robust grid planning as India’s electricity consumption patterns evolve.
