India runs power plants flat out to keep cool in heatwave and election

India’s electricity grid has remained stable despite a record-shattering heatwave in May, demonstrating a high degree of technical skill and avoiding embarrassing blackouts during the election period.
Daily temperatures in the New Delhi suburb of Palam in north India have averaged a seasonal record 35.1 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) so far in May, up from 30.1C in May 2023 and a long-term seasonal average of 33.3C.
Exceptionally high temperatures are likely to have boosted air conditioning and refrigeration demand to record or near-record levels for the time of year.
The grid met a record peak load of 246 million kilowatts on May 29 and then 250 million kilowatts on May 30, shattering the previous record of 240 million kilowatts set in September 2023.
But the transmission system has been unusually stable throughout the heatwave – more stable than in other periods when demand was considerably lower.