India's peak power demand surged to a historic 256GW on Saturday, driven by extreme heatwaves affecting northwest and central regions. This demand spike follows a previous high of 252GW recorded on Friday, surpassing the earlier record of 251GW set in May 2024. The intense heat has led to widespread use of cooling appliances, with maximum temperatures hitting 47.4°C in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. Experts indicate that this unusually high demand is typically observed during May-June, but the early onset of summer this year has resulted in a significant rise in consumption. The Central Electricity Authority forecasts that peak demand could escalate to 271GW by FY27. Additionally, the shift from cooking gas to electric cookstoves is expected to contribute an additional 27GW to electricity demand. To cope with this surge, power distribution companies are urged to maintain adequate reserves and infrastructure to facilitate electricity procurement from other states as needed. The India Meteorological Department predicts that heatwave conditions will persist in various regions, further exacerbating demand for electricity.