Gujarat Urges Factories to Reduce Power Use Amid Rising Electricity Demand
Gujarat, India’s leading industrial state, has urged factories to reduce electricity consumption during evening peak hours as rising demand and low coal stocks at power plants put pressure on energy supplies. According to Reuters on October 21, 2026, the state utility Uttar Gujarat Vij Company has asked industries and residents to conserve electricity between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Factories have been encouraged to voluntarily shift production to non-peak hours.
Rising temperatures linked to El Niño, increased irrigation requirements and growing industrial activity are contributing to higher electricity demand across India. Data from the Central Electricity Authority indicates that around half of the country’s 191 coal-fired power plants are operating with critically low coal inventories. Meanwhile, daily peak electricity demand has been 45 to 50 gigawatts higher than a year earlier.
To address the supply pressure, Gujarat has requested additional coal and electricity from the central government. The state is also planning new coal, nuclear and battery storage projects to meet future energy needs. Several other states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Bihar, are seeking short-term coal-based power supplies as India faces growing challenges in balancing electricity demand and availability.
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