India's June Power Demand Surges 12% Amid Heat Wave and Delayed Monsoon

India’s electricity consumption jumped 11.6% in June 2026, reaching 166.46 billion units, while peak demand climbed to about 264.8 GW, driven by intense heat‑wave conditions and a late‑onset southwest monsoon. The surge reflected higher use of air‑conditioners and other cooling appliances.

Coal‑fired generation rose 14% year‑on‑year to 120.20 billion kWh, the highest share since November 2023. Despite the rise in coal output, wind and solar’s share of the mix increased to 19% of total generation, while hydropower fell 24.4% and gas‑fired output dropped 30.1% as El Niño‑related dryness reduced water‑based generation. Analysts expect peak summer demand to approach 270 GW, exceeding the previous record of 250 GW recorded in May 2024.