India Sets New Peak Power Consumption Record

India’s electricity demand has reached a historic milestone, recording three consecutive all-time highs within 72 hours. According to latest data, peak power demand touched 265,297 MW at 15:31 hrs on 20 May 2026, marking the third straight record after 258.1 GW on 18 May and 260.2 GW on 19 May.

However, the more critical trend emerged after sunset, where at 23:00 hrs, all-India demand remained high at 250.9 GW, and even around midnight the grid sustained nearly 245 GW without solar support. Unlike daytime peaks supported by solar energy, nighttime demand relies heavily on thermal, hydro, wind, and transmission flexibility. Power exchange data showed the IEX DAM for 21 May delivery cleared at ₹5,997.07/MWh on 137.240 MU.