New Delhi, May 7 -- Rating agency ICRA has projected Indias power demand to grow by 5 5.5 per cent in 2026 27, recovering from a subdued growth of around 1 per cent in 2025 26, which was impacted by weather-related disruptions.
The expected rebound will be driven by higher demand from agriculture and households amid forecasts of below-normal rainfall linked to a potential El Niño, along with rising consumption from industries and emerging segments such as electric vehicles and data centres.
Thermal PLF to Remain Stable
The all-India thermal plant load factor (PLF) declined to 65 66 per cent in 2025 26 due to weaker demand and is expected to remain around 65 per cent in 2026 27. This is despite improving demand, as renewable ene...