NEW DELHI: On May 21 this year, Delhi recorded a peak power demand of 8,231 MW, its highest ever for the date, marking a drastic rise from just 2,783 MW on May 21, 2021, according to official data. In six years, the city’s electricity demand on the corresponding day has nearly tripled, underlining the sharp heat-driven power consumption.
According to the official data of the Ministry of Power, the power demand never touched the 8,000 mark in the month of May in the past six years.
The data shows a steady climb each year, from around 7,726 MW in 2024 and 7,748 MW in 2025 to over 8,200 MW in 2026. The rise has been sharp and relentless. While 2023 and 2024 saw demand largely hover between 4,000 and 6,500 MW, 2025 pushed the ceiling further to over 7,700 MW. This year, however, has broken all previous records within weeks, with demand crossing 8,000 MW almost daily.
An official from the BSES said, “The surge is being driven by intensifying heatwaves, with longer and hotter days and increasingly warmer nights forcing residents to depend heavily on air-conditioners, coolers and fans. What was once a peak seen occasionally in late June is now becoming routine as early as mid-May.”
Between May 1 and May 21, Delhi’s peak power demand in 2026 was higher than the corresponding day of 2025 on 16 out of 21 days, around 76 per cent of the days. Compared to 2024, Delhi’s peak demand in 2026 was higher on 14 out of 21 days, around 67 per cent of the days.
As the country’s daytime peak power demand also touched an all-time high of 270.82 gigawatts (GW) on May 21, the Ministry of Power on Friday stated that electricity consumption has broken previous records for four consecutive days due to intense summer conditions.
In a post on X, the ministry has urged the citizens to use the electricity wisely. The ministry said in the post, “Although we are prepared to supply electricity as required, due to the intense summer, let us all try to use electricity wisely and judiciously.”
Even when the demand is expected to go up further in the coming days, the BSES officials stated that they are fully geared up to ensure reliable power supply to more than 53 lakh consumers and nearly 2.25 crore residents across the city. The power demand in the city is expected to witness further rise this summer.
Additionally, around 2,670 MW of green power will play a key role in ensuring reliable electricity supply during the summer months in BSES areas, said officials. On the other hand, Tata Power-DDL also supplied the season’s peak demand of 2220 MW to date seamlessly across its network.
Field timings for Census staff rescheduled due to intense heat
The intense summer heat has prompted the authorities to revise the field timings for the Census staff engaged in the ongoing house listing exercise across the national capital, officials said on Friday. The office of the divisional commissioner (revenue) has directed the enumerators to undertake field visits only during morning and evening hours.
