India peak power demand reaches 245,416 MW in January 2026

India recorded a peak power demand of 245,416 MW in January 2026, with the national grid maintaining frequency within the standard band for over 78% of the time, according to the monthly operational report released by Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India).

The all-India peak demand of 245,416 MW was recorded on January 9, 2026 at 9:52 AM based on one-minute supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) data. The evening peak demand at 7:00 PM reached 213,615 MW. Total energy consumption during the month stood at 142,888 MU, compared with 137,499 MU in January 2025. Regional consumption was reported at 48,204 MU in the Western Region, 40,542 MU in the Northern Region, 37,341 MU in the Southern Region, 15,189 MU in the Eastern Region, and 1,591 MU in the Northeastern Region. Most states and union territories reported no shortages, though Uttar Pradesh recorded a peak demand shortfall of 1.1% (260 MW), while Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh reported a 0.2% energy deficit (4 MU).

Grid frequency exceeded 50.05 Hz for 17.16% of the time, remained between 49.9 Hz and 50.05 Hz for 78.26%, and fell below 49.9 Hz for 4.58%. The maximum frequency recorded was 50.35 Hz, the minimum 49.58 Hz, and the monthly average 50.00 Hz. The Frequency Variation Index (FVI) ranged between 0.02 and 0.05, indicating stable operations.

Hydropower generation totalled 7,913 MU during the month, with daily average generation of 255 MU. Solar generation reached 14,998 MU, averaging 484 MU per day, with January 23, 2026 recording the highest single-day solar output of 546 MU. Wind generation totalled 6,133 MU, with the peak wind generation day recorded on January 7, 2026 at 298 MU.

Inter-regional power exchanges for FY 2025-26 (April to January) reached 20,846 MU. Major transfers included 7,216.83 MU from the Western Region to the Northern Region, 3,220.03 MU from the Western Region to the Southern Region, 2,485.89 MU from the Eastern Region to the Southern Region, 1,865.94 MU from the Eastern Region to the Northern Region, and 1,040.43 MU from the Western Region to the Eastern Region.

International power trade during January 2026 included exports of 569.80 MU to Bangladesh and 221.04 MU to Nepal, while imports comprised 465.03 MU from Bhutan and 0.66 MU from Myanmar. Cumulative FY 2025-26 imports from Bhutan reached 7,686.87 MU, while exports totalled 6,824.56 MU to Bangladesh and 3,334.06 MU to Nepal.

Short-term open access (STOA) activity included 46,876 approved bilateral transactions covering 35,424 MU and 16,880 collective transactions covering 11,584 MU. Cumulative STOA transactions for FY 2025-26 reached 1,53,826 transactions. Power exchanges recorded 11,584 MU of transactions during January 2026.

During the month, 6,29,863 renewable energy certificates (RECs) were issued, all non-solar, while redemptions totalled 1,26,652 non-solar certificates. Cumulative REC issuance since inception reached 2,10,63,69, with total redemptions of 16,27,80,647 and a closing balance of 28,41,60,20 as of January 31, 2026.

Grid disturbance reporting showed 22 events in the Northern Region, including a GI-2 event in Rajasthan on January 14, 2026 involving 925 MW generation loss due to a transmission line fault caused by kite thread. Jammu and Kashmir recorded GD-1 events on January 22 with combined load loss of 460 MW and another GD-1 event on January 24 involving 297 MW generation loss and 1,180 MW load loss during heavy snowfall. Delhi recorded a GD-1 event on January 27 with 846 MW load loss due to a bus fault at the Bawana substation. The Western Region reported 17 events, largely linked to renewable evacuation infrastructure, while the Southern Region reported seven events including a 450 MW generation loss at Simhadri thermal power station (TPS) on January 31 due to human error during current transformer (CT) testing.

Infrastructure additions during January 2026 included 525 MW thermal capacity, 500 MW hydro capacity from Subansiri Lower hydroelectric project (HEP) units 1 and 3, 1,200 MW solar capacity, 381 MW wind capacity, and 16 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity. Transformation capacity additions totalled 10,180 MVA, while 2,380 circuit kilometers of transmission lines were commissioned, including 765 kV Ahmedabad-New Navsari, Bhadla-Sikar, and Mainpuri-Bara and Mainpuri-Unnao lines. Reactive compensation additions totalled 775 MVAr.

Voltage profiles remained largely within acceptable limits, although deviations were recorded, including 67 hours at Rampur in the Northern Region, 32 hours at Vadodara in the Western Region, 35 hours at Nizamabad in the Southern Region, and seven hours at Sasaram in the Eastern Region. The Northeastern Region maintained voltage within band throughout the month.

The all-time highest peak demand met remains 250,070 MW recorded on May 30, 2024, with maximum energy met of 5,466 MU on the same date. Region-wise all-time peak demand records include 91,215 MW for the Northern Region, 82,925 MW for the Western Region recorded on January 23, 2026, 69,942 MW for the Southern Region, 33,452 MW for the Eastern Region, and 4,159 MW for the Northeastern Region.

The report states that the Indian power system operated reliably in January 2026, with demand largely met across regions and continued renewable integration supported by new infrastructure additions.

The featured photograph is for representation only.