India power grid strain from heat and coal shortages

6 Oct 2026

India’s power system is under strain from the combined pressure of extreme heat and tight coal supplies, which have pushed electricity demand to record levels while leaving many plants short of fuel. The central issue is balancing rapid demand growth, especially for cooling, against generation that depends heavily on coal and is weakened when stocks run low or hydropower output falls. National and state authorities are relying on emergency measures such as forcing captive plants to run harder and buying power from the market to avoid outages. The stakes are broad, ranging from blackouts and industrial disruption to higher costs for consumers, farmers, and businesses, while exposing how vulnerable the grid remains to weather and fuel shocks.