The Ministry of Power reported on 28 April 2026 that India had successfully met an all-time highest peak electricity demand of 256.1 GW on 25 April 2026 at 15:38 without any shortage, while also maintaining electricity exports to neighbouring countries. The peak surpassed the earlier record of 250 GW reached on 30 May 2024 and was higher than the 245.4 GW peak observed on 9 January 2026 during the last financial year.
The ministry linked the rise to summer conditions and said electricity consumption from 1 April to 27 April 2026 grew 8.9% over the corresponding period of the previous year. It added that record capacity addition of around 65 GW during 2025-26 strengthened the generation portfolio and improved preparedness for high-demand conditions. On that basis, the system is expected to meet demand of around 270 GW this year.
The demand was met through advance resource adequacy planning, optimal scheduling and dispatch of available generation resources, and close real-time coordination among the National Load Despatch Centre, Regional Load Despatch Centres, State Load Despatch Centres and generating stations. Efficient use of transmission corridors also supported the peak-hour response.
At the time of the peak, grid frequency stood at 50.00 hertz and all-India peak demand met was 256117 MW. The source mix showed thermal power at 174565 MW, or 66.9% of total generation, followed by solar at 56204 MW, or 21.5%. Hydro contributed 11422 MW, nuclear 6293 MW, gas 5205 MW, wind 4897 MW, storage through pumped storage projects and battery systems 201 MW, and other sources 2110 MW. The event showed the continuing centrality of thermal power along with the growing role of solar and flexible resources in grid stability.