Industries in Gujarat start curtailing power use despite State’s 79.5 GW

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Gujarat recorded an all-time high peak electricity demand of 29,822 MW on October 16, up 36.6 per cent from 21,822 MW a year earlier

By Avinash Nair

Updated - October 20, 2026 at 06:12 PM. | Ahmedabad

Daily electricity consumption rose 27 per cent year-on-year to 574 million units

Industries in parts of Gujarat have begun curtailing electricity use during evening peak hours, as the State grapples with record power demand, despite having nearly 79.5 GW of installed generation capacity.

Gujarat recorded an all-time high peak electricity demand of 29,822 MW on October 16, up 36.6 per cent from 21,822 MW a year earlier. Daily electricity consumption rose 27 per cent year-on-year to 574 million units. Ajit Shah, President of the Sanand Industries Association, said industries in the region had been advised to avoid using electricity between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., when solar generation falls to zero and demand from industry and agriculture remains high. “The government has issued an advisory asking industries to voluntarily not use power between 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.,” Shah told the businessline.

The curtailment advisory does not apply to companies with continuous manufacturing processes, according to the information provided by the industry association. Shah said the government had initially made staggered power cuts compulsory before making them optional, with different districts scheduled to face the measures on a rotating weekly basis.

Since October 17 was a Dussehra holiday, the immediate impact on industry was expected to be limited, Shah said, adding that the effect on production would become clearer when businesses resumed normal operations. Industrialists in Morbi said that the staggered power outage in the ceramic hub will impact smaller MSME units operating in the region.

The situation highlights the challenge of matching electricity supply with demand at specific times of the day. Of Gujarat’s nearly 79,508 MW of installed capacity, around 53,500 MW is renewable energy, including approximately 36,000 MW of solar and 17,000 MW of wind power. Solar generation drops after sunset, while wind output is intermittent, increasing the importance of thermal generation and power purchases during evening peak hours.

Demand surge

The State government has attributed the demand surge to high temperatures despite a weak monsoon, agricultural irrigation requirements, festive-season industrial activity and lower hydropower and wind generation. Agricultural demand alone has reached around 12,000 MW a day, according to the government.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting with Energy Minister Rushikesh Patel and senior officials to review Gujarat’s rising electricity demand and the State’s power supply preparedness. The meeting reviewed measures to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to farmers, industries and domestic consumers, according to a statement issued by the State government.

To address the situation, Gujarat has arranged short-term power purchases of 2,990 MW for October, 1,740 MW for November and 1,335 MW for December. It has also secured 379 MW from NTPC’s Farakka plant for November, 500 MW on a long-term basis from Assam’s share of central generation and an additional 500 MW from the Centre’s unallocated power pool, according to the State government’s review.

The government has also sought to strengthen coal supplies to State power plants. The Union Coal Ministry has assured daily supplies of 10-11 railway rakes until November, rising to 13-14 rakes a day thereafter, the State said.

Another measure is to maximise the use of solar electricity during daylight hours by shifting agricultural consumption to periods when solar generation is available. The government has also appealed to consumers to avoid unnecessary electricity use between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m..

Battery storage is being pursued as a longer-term solution to the evening supply challenge. Gujarat currently has 192 MW of battery energy storage capacity in operation, while contracts have been finalised for 2,742 MW/5,517 MWh. A further 500 MW/1,000 MWh is expected to become operational by March 2027, and a tender for another 1,000 MW/4,000 MWh is under process.

Published on October 20, 2026

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