Madhya Pradesh will procure additional electricity from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to maintain uninterrupted power supply in rural areas as demand outstrips generation. The state’s power demand surged to 17,313 MW on October 15, compared with 11,874 MW during the corresponding period last year.
Agricultural power demand nearly doubled to 3,700 MW from 1,752 MW a year ago, intensifying the pressure on electricity supplies ahead of the Rabi sowing season.
The state generated only 7,536 MW of electricity on October 15, comprising 3,642 MW from thermal plants, 2,091 MW from hydel sources and 1,803 MW from renewable energy.
A senior power department official said demand, which was expected to rise in November, increased earlier than anticipated due to deficient rainfall, reduced hydel generation, coal shortages and technical problems at thermal power plants.
The widening gap between demand and supply has affected agricultural activities, particularly paddy irrigation, with farmers facing erratic electricity supply. Demand is expected to rise further as wheat sowing begins.
The crisis has triggered protests across the Nimar and Malwa regions, including Khargone, Khandwa, Barwani, Rajgarh and Shivpuri, where residents have taken to the streets over frequent power cuts.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary and Khargone MP Gajendra Patel, along with Khandwa MP Dnyaneshwar Patil, has written to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav seeking intervention. Several ministers also raised concerns during the latest Cabinet meeting, while Minister Gautam Tetwal appealed to the chief minister through a video message.
Congress leader Mukesh Nayak criticised the government over the power crisis, alleging that the administration had failed to ensure reliable electricity supply despite previously targeting the Congress government on the same issue.
At an Energy Department meeting, officials attributed the increase in demand to Rabi irrigation requirements and electricity consumption for festival tableaux.
Energy Minister Pradhuman Singh Tomar said technical glitches had affected power generation and efforts were underway to restart non-operational units.
He added that electricity supply on October 14, 2026, was 38.6% higher than on the corresponding date last year. Supply increased from 2,423 lakh units in 2025 to 3,310 lakh units in 2026.
The minister also pointed to a nationwide electricity shortage, saying power was unavailable even through energy exchanges. Madhya Pradesh is currently sourcing 500 MW from Uttar Pradesh during peak hours and is exploring additional procurement from major power exchanges, including those in Punjab.
Tomar said an additional 3,000–4,000 MW of electricity was expected to become available from the following week, which the government expects will help ease the shortage and stabilise supply across the state.
