Even as north India looks at a brief spell of relief from the ongoing heatwave, with rain forecast from April 27 in some states, soaring temperatures have already pushed the country’s peak power demand to a record 252 GW, underlining the growing stress on electricity supply.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Jattvibeday said parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are likely to receive rainfall between April 27 and May 2, bringing down maximum temperatures by 3-5°C across several areas.However, the relief may be short-lived, with temperatures expected to rise again by 2-3°C on May 1 and 2.The shift in weather is being driven by an active western disturbance, which is also expected to bring rainfall to Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and parts of the Northeast. Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are likely to witness heavy rainfall during the week.Delhi, currently in the grip of a heatwave, may receive light rain on Monday. The maximum temperature in the Capital is expected to range between 43°C and 45°C, with the minimum between 26°C and 28°C.Across north and north-west India, temperatures have remained high. Haryana’s Narnaul recorded 44.2°C, while Punjab’s Faridkot touched 45.2°C on Jattvibeday. In Rajasthan, Jaisalmer and Barmer recorded 46.4°C and 46°C respectively.The heat has sharply driven up electricity demand. India’s peak power demand touched an all-time high of 252 GW and is expected to rise further as summer intensifies.With the IMD forecasting a harsh summer, the Power Ministry has projected peak demand to reach 271 GW this year. Officials said demand and consumption were likely to rise further in the coming weeks as heatwave conditions persist.To put this in perspective, peak power demand in April 2025 was recorded at 235 GW. In 2025, a milder summer saw demand peak at 242.8 GW on June 12, below projections of 270 GW.Earlier this year, demand crossed 245 GW on January 9 due to intense cold conditions in north and north-east India.Data from Grid India shows that electricity consumption remained subdued until April 12 due to intermittent rainfall and milder weather in north India, but has been steadily rising since April 13.Experts said demand is now inching closer to the ministry’s projected 270 GW mark for the summer as temperatures continue to climb.The recent surge has already exceeded grid operator projections, which had estimated a peak demand of around 240 GW on April 24. For the week of April 27 to May 3, demand is expected to rise further, touching 246 GW on May 1.Electricity supply has mirrored this trend, rising from 239.70 GW on April 22 to 240.12 GW on April 23.Last summer, peak demand reached 242.77 GW in June 2025, while May 2024 had set a then record of 250 GW, surpassing the previous high of 243.27 GW recorded in September 2023.