NEW DELHI, Jan. 4 -- India's electricity demand spiked sharply at the end of December, bucking a largely subdued trend seen through most of 2025. Peak power demand touched 241 gigawatt (GW) on 31 December, driven by a cold wave across large parts of north and central India.

Mint explains why this winter surge matters, after a year in which power consumption remained weaker than expected due to a prolonged monsoon.

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...