Tamil Nadu Suffers 3,000‑MW Power Shortage; TNPDCL Buys 2,000 MW to Offset Cuts

In September, Tamil Nadu’s electricity demand climbed to 20,500 MW, a sharp rise from the 16,000‑17,000 MW range seen a year earlier. The surge left the state facing a shortfall of more than 3,000 MW. To keep the lights on, the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) has purchased 2,000 MW of power from external suppliers. The move comes after a period of unscheduled power cuts that had disrupted daily life and business operations across the state. While the additional purchase bridges part of the gap, the remaining deficit still threatens to trigger further outages unless additional supply or demand‑management measures are implemented.