New Delhi, June 5 -- Demand for power in India's top six industrialized states flattened in April and cooled in May, pointing to a potential fall in factory production at the start of the new financial year.

Data from the Grid Controller of India showed that total daily demand in May across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka fell 5.7% from a year ago. As of 25 May, cumulative demand in these states stood at 59.58 billion units (BUs). In the same month, the HSBC manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index hit a three-month low, as new orders and production slowed.

In April, power demand across the same states was flat at over 75 BUs.

While a break-up of industrial, consumer and household power con...