Electricity demand fell in May as the temperature dropped

Power demand in the country fell 4.3% on-year in May to 149 billion units (BUs), compared with 155 BUs in the corresponding month last year, as average temperature during the month was unusually low amid unseasonal rainfall in several parts of the country.

Power demand in the North decreased ~8% on-year vis-a-vis a 30% rise in May 2024.

Rainfall in the northwest region, which as per the Indian Metrological Department’s classification includes north India, was 31% above normal during the month. This was contrary to what we saw in May 2024, when there were severe heatwaves and rainfall was 66% below normal.

Central India and the southern peninsula also recorded high deviation in rainfall at 443% and 171%, respectively, above normal.

Overall, rainfall during the month was 91% above the normal, at 103.5 mm of rainfall between May 1 and May 28 as against the historical average of 56.8 mm. This time, the southwest monsoon also arrived about 8 days early, the earliest date of the onset of the monsoon since 2009.