Mint Explainer | Why India’s winter power spike matters after a muted year for electricity demand
What caused power demand to peak in December?
Power demand typically rises during December and January as colder temperatures increase the use of heating appliances. This year, a sharp cold wave across Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh pushed up electricity consumption, with temperatures dropping to as low as 4 degrees Celsius in some areas. Delhi recorded its coldest December day in six years on 31 December 2025.
