India’s power consumption rises nearly amid rising temperatures
India’s power consumption surged by nearly 7% to 148.48 billion units (BU) in March 2025, compared to 138.95 BU in the same period last year, driven by rising temperatures, according to official data.
Peak power demand met also saw an increase, reaching 235.22 GW in March, up from 221.68 GW in March 2024. The record peak demand of 250 GW was registered in May 2024, surpassing the previous high of 243.27 GW recorded in September 2023. The Ministry of Power had projected peak demand to reach 260 GW in the summer of 2024, with estimates for 2025 suggesting a further rise to 277 GW.
Experts anticipate power demand to escalate further from April onwards, as India braces for a hotter-than-usual summer. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted elevated temperatures across most parts of the country between April and June, with an increased number of heatwave days in central and eastern India, as well as the northwestern plains.
IMD projections indicate that maximum temperatures in April will be above normal in most regions, except for a few pockets in the far south and northwest, where temperatures may remain close to average. Similarly, minimum temperatures are expected to be higher than usual across most parts of the country, with only a few locations in the northwest and northeast likely to experience near-normal or slightly below-average temperatures.
The early onset of heatwaves in 2025 has contributed to the rise in electricity consumption. Unlike last year, when the first heatwave was recorded in Odisha on April 5, 2025 saw heatwaves in parts of Konkan and coastal Karnataka as early as February 27-28. Given the increased frequency of extreme temperatures, experts predict a 9-10% rise in peak electricity demand this summer.
As India prepares for the impact of rising temperatures, power sector stakeholders are closely monitoring consumption trends and infrastructure readiness to meet the growing demand efficiently.
