📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Coal
National
India Faces Night-Time Power Crunch Despite Rising Coal Generation
✍️ India Today
🗓 06 Oct 2026, 11:36 AM
👁 17
India is experiencing a shortage of electricity during night hours even as coal-based power generation increases, raising questions about grid management and demand patterns.
India is currently grappling with a distinct power supply issue characterized by shortages during night-time hours. This phenomenon is occurring despite a concurrent rise in electricity generation from coal-fired power plants, which form the backbone of the country's energy mix.
The discrepancy between increased generation capacity and actual supply during specific hours highlights potential inefficiencies in the national power grid. While coal plants are producing more electricity, the distribution and transmission networks may not be effectively balancing the load during off-peak or night periods.
Energy experts suggest that this night-time crunch could be linked to fluctuations in demand patterns or technical constraints in the transmission infrastructure. The situation underscores the complexity of managing a diverse energy portfolio where generation capacity does not always translate seamlessly into reliable supply at the consumer end.
As India continues to expand its coal-based generation to meet growing energy needs, addressing these specific time-of-day supply gaps remains a critical challenge for power authorities and grid operators.
The discrepancy between increased generation capacity and actual supply during specific hours highlights potential inefficiencies in the national power grid. While coal plants are producing more electricity, the distribution and transmission networks may not be effectively balancing the load during off-peak or night periods.
Energy experts suggest that this night-time crunch could be linked to fluctuations in demand patterns or technical constraints in the transmission infrastructure. The situation underscores the complexity of managing a diverse energy portfolio where generation capacity does not always translate seamlessly into reliable supply at the consumer end.
As India continues to expand its coal-based generation to meet growing energy needs, addressing these specific time-of-day supply gaps remains a critical challenge for power authorities and grid operators.