India's Power Demand Hits 15-Year January High Amid Cold Wave

• India's power demand surged to nearly 143 billion units (BUs) in January 2026, a 4.5% year-on-year increase and the highest January consumption since at least 2010.
• The severe cold wave in northern and eastern regions significantly drove this demand, increasing heating needs.
• Real-time market (RTM) volume rose 52.8% year-on-year, while power generation jumped 6% to 156 BUs in January.
• Renewable energy-based generation increased 10% year-on-year, with 39.65 GW of RE capacity added in fiscal 2026 (April-January).
• Discoms may face challenges in meeting demand due to issues like forced outages and reserve shutdowns, potentially relying on power exchanges.