India’s electricity generation experienced its sharpest decline in October since the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by a combination of economic slowdown and unusually heavy rainfall. According to a Reuters analysis of government data, total power output fell by 6% year-on-year to 142.45 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh). The persistent rains across the country significantly reduced the demand for cooling, while subdued industrial activity further contributed to the downturn. Bhanu Patni, associate director at India Ratings and Research, noted that the extended rainfall led to lower electricity consumption compared to the previous year. Debabrat Ghosh, head of India for Aurora Energy, added that the timing of major festivals in October also resulted in reduced industrial power demand. Coal-fired electricity generation, which typically accounts for 75% of India’s power output, saw its steepest decline since June 2020, dropping by 13.2% to 98.38 billion kWh. This decline has impacted Coal India, the nation’s largest coal producer, which reported its worst profit decline in five years for the quarter ending September. However, renewable energy output surged by 30.2% to 19.75 billion kWh, highlighting a shift towards cleaner energy sources.
India’s October power output sees sharpest drop since Covid-19 as rains dampen demand
