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Rising temperatures push electricity demand upward across the national capital.

As intense summer heat continues to grip the national capital, the Government of Delhi has announced plans to prepare a comprehensive “Power Master Plan” to tackle the sharp rise in electricity demand and strengthen the city’s power infrastructure for the future.

The announcement comes at a time when Delhi has already recorded a peak power demand of more than 8,400 megawatts (MW) in May, nearly touching last year’s summer peak and arriving much earlier than expected. Officials say the unusually high temperatures and widespread use of air conditioners, coolers and other electrical appliances have significantly increased pressure on the city’s power supply system.

According to the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC), electricity consumption has risen steadily over the past few weeks as temperatures crossed 45 degrees Celsius in several parts of the city. Experts believe the demand may increase further in June if the heatwave continues.

Delhi Power Minister Ashish Sood said the proposed master plan would focus on long-term energy security, modernisation of transmission systems and preparation for future growth in electricity consumption.

“Delhi’s power demand is increasing every year due to population growth, urban expansion and rising temperatures. The new master plan will ensure uninterrupted supply and strengthen our infrastructure for the coming decades,” he said.

Officials said the plan would include upgrades in substations, expansion of transmission networks, promotion of renewable energy and measures to reduce power losses. The government is also expected to work closely with electricity distribution companies to improve load management during peak hours.

Despite the rising demand, authorities have so far managed to avoid major power cuts in most parts of the city. Distribution companies claimed that adequate arrangements had been made in advance to meet the summer demand. Backup power arrangements and real-time monitoring systems have also been strengthened.

Residents, however, remain concerned about the possibility of outages if temperatures continue to rise.

“Electricity becomes essential during this kind of heat. Even a short power cut makes life extremely difficult,” Rakesh Kumar, a resident of East Delhi, told TSG. “People are running air conditioners almost all day because the heat is unbearable.”

Another resident, Priya Malhotra from South Delhi, said electricity bills have also increased sharply this summer. “Our household consumption has nearly doubled in May. We are worried both about the heat and the high bills,” she said.

Energy experts warn that climate change and frequent heatwaves are making summers more challenging for urban centres like Delhi. They say cities must invest in stronger power infrastructure, renewable energy sources and energy-efficient systems to manage future demand.

Environmentalists have also stressed the importance of reducing dependence on conventional energy and encouraging solar power installations in residential and commercial buildings.

“Extreme weather events are becoming more common. Cities must prepare sustainable solutions rather than relying only on short-term measures,” said environmental analyst Vivek Sharma.

With temperatures expected to remain high over the coming weeks, the Delhi government now faces the dual challenge of ensuring uninterrupted power supply while preparing the city’s infrastructure for rising energy demands in the years ahead.