MP power demand jumps 5,000 MW in a year; 3,000-4,000 MW relief due next week
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh's peak power demand has exploded by 5,000 MW in a single year — driven by deficient rains and a doubling of farm irrigation load — pushing the state to the brink of its grid capacity. With the spot market nearly dry and prices at ₹10 per unit, the government's bet on restarting idled thermal units and banked power will be tested just as rabi sowing begins.
Key Takeaways
Madhya Pradesh peak power demand reached 17,124 MW on 14 October 2026 , up from 11,874 MW a year ago — a rise of roughly 5,000 MW .
Energy Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar said an additional 3,000–4,000 MW is expected from next week as idled units restart.
Agricultural power demand more than doubled to 3,701 MW on 1 October 2026 , driven by paddy and pre-sowing irrigation needs.
Hydropower output has dropped by 1,500 MW and thermal faults have cut another 1,000 MW from available supply.
On the Indian Energy Exchange , sellers offered only ~500 MW against bids for 70,000 MW during peak hours on 13 October , with power priced at ₹10 per unit .
Congress president Jitu Patwari alleged farmers are getting only 2–4 hours of electricity daily against a promised 10 hours .
Madhya Pradesh is set to receive an additional 3,000 to 4,000 MW of electricity from next week, Energy Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar said on Thursday, 15 October 2026, as the state grapples with a power crunch triggered by a dramatic surge in demand and reduced generation capacity. The state's peak electricity demand hit 17,124 MW on 14 October 2026, up from 11,874 MW on the same date last year — a jump of roughly 5,000 MW in twelve months.
Where the Extra Power Is Coming From
Generating units at Khandwa and Birsinghpur have already resumed operations following scheduled maintenance, adding around 1,000 MW to available supply. A further 600 MW is expected from Lanco Power and NTPC Gadarwara by 20 October, while units with a combined capacity of approximately 1,200 MW that were shut due to technical faults are expected to come back online within one to two days. An additional 500 MW of banked power is also slated to become available from 16 October.
Tomar noted that despite the shortage, the state supplied 38.6 per cent more electricity on 14 October compared with the same date in 2025 — rising from 2,423 lakh units to 3,310 lakh units.
Why Demand Has Spiked
Agricultural power consumption has been the primary driver of the surge. Demand from the farm sector more than doubled to 3,701 MW on 1 October 2026, up from 1,752 MW on the same date last year. Tomar attributed this to heightened requirements for paddy irrigation and pre-sowing irrigation in areas that received below-normal rainfall this season.
On the supply side, hydropower generation from five major projects — Gandhi Sagar, Omkareshwar, Indira Sagar, Rajghat, and Sardar Sarovar — has fallen by around 1,500 MW due to reduced rainfall. Technical problems at thermal plants have knocked out another 1,000 MW, while coal shortages and unit trippings have further constrained availability.
Power Exchange Near Dry, Prices at ₹10 Per Unit
The nationwide spot market has offered little relief. On 13 October, bids to purchase around 70,000 MW were placed during peak hours on the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), while sellers offered only approximately 500 MW — with available power priced at ₹10 per unit. The state is currently procuring 500 MW from Uttar Pradesh during peak hours and is attempting to source additional units through the exchange.
For the upcoming rabi season, Madhya Pradesh has arranged advance power banking of around 3,825 million units — 225 million units more than last year's 3,600 million units. This arrangement is expected to provide between 407 MW and 3,900 MW of electricity from 1 November 2026 to 10 March 2027.
Congress Accuses BJP of Poor Preparedness
The power crisis has drawn sharp political fire. State Congress president Jitu Patwari alleged that farmers across several districts were enduring undeclared power cuts and, in some areas, receiving only two to four hours of electricity per day against a government promise of 10 hours.
'Farmers in Madhya Pradesh are waiting for electricity to irrigate their fields. Undeclared power cuts in many districts have left citizens distressed. In some places, farmers' anger is spilling onto the roads, while in others, electricity offices are being locked,' Patwari said.
He demanded a time-bound plan to end unscheduled cuts, immediate procurement of additional power, district-level supply monitoring, and accountability for officials responsible for disruptions. 'Why were no concrete preparations made to ensure electricity availability before the rabi sowing season? The government must immediately ensure 10 hours of power supply to farmers,' he added.
With the rabi sowing window opening and the exchange market stretched, whether the incoming capacity additions will arrive on schedule will determine how severe the disruption to the farm sector becomes over the next fortnight.
Point of View
000 MW demand spike in a single year is not just a supply-management failure — it reflects a structural vulnerability where deficient rainfall simultaneously chokes hydropower generation and inflates farm irrigation load, creating a pincer effect on the grid. The near-complete dryness of the spot exchange, with 70,000 MW of bids against 500 MW of offers, signals this is not a Madhya Pradesh problem alone but a national grid stress moment that deserves wider scrutiny. The government's reliance on advance power banking for the rabi season is sensible, but the Congress allegations of undeclared cuts — if verified — suggest the ground reality is already worse than official supply figures imply. The real accountability question is whether pre-season capacity planning adequately modelled below-normal rainfall as a baseline risk, not an exception.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Madhya Pradesh facing a power shortage in October 2026?
Madhya Pradesh is facing a power crunch because peak electricity demand has surged by roughly 5,000 MW in a year to 17,124 MW, driven largely by a doubling of agricultural irrigation demand following deficient rainfall. At the same time, hydropower output has fallen by about 1,500 MW and thermal plant faults have reduced generation by another 1,000 MW.
When will the power situation in Madhya Pradesh improve?
Energy Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar said the state expects an additional 3,000 to 4,000 MW from next week as generating units at Khandwa and Birsinghpur resume operations and around 1,200 MW of fault-affected capacity comes back online within one to two days. A further 600 MW from Lanco Power and NTPC Gadarwara is expected by 20 October 2026.
How much more electricity did Madhya Pradesh supply on 14 October compared to last year?
The state supplied 38.6 per cent more electricity on 14 October 2026 than on the same date in 2025, rising from 2,423 lakh units to 3,310 lakh units, according to Energy Minister Tomar.
What is the power situation on the Indian Energy Exchange?
The spot market is severely strained. On 13 October, bids to purchase around 70,000 MW were placed during peak hours, while sellers offered only about 500 MW at a price of ₹10 per unit. Madhya Pradesh is procuring 500 MW from Uttar Pradesh during peak hours and seeking additional purchases through the exchange.
What are the Congress allegations about the MP power crisis?
State Congress president Jitu Patwari has alleged that farmers in several districts are receiving only two to four hours of electricity daily despite a government promise of 10 hours, and that undeclared power cuts have caused widespread distress. He has demanded a time-bound plan to end unscheduled outages and accountability for officials responsible for disruptions.
