<p>India's electricity demand grew 4.1% in October, with supply falling short of demand by 1%, despite a rise of 1.8% in coal-fired generation and an increase of 28.4% in solar output, a Reuters analysis of government data showed.</p>.<p>Demand boosted by increased economic activity after the second wave of coronavirus infections caused a shortage of coal that forced India's northern states to cut power last month for up to 14 hours a day.</p>.<p>The rapid demand surge and high global prices have left utilities scrambling for coal, India's dominant fuel for power generation, despite record supplies from state-run Coal India, which has a near-monopoly of production.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/dh-galleries/photos/which-are-the-top-10-most-energy-efficient-states-in-the-country-see-list-1045069">SEEI 2020: Top 10 most energy-efficient states in India</a></strong></p>.<p>India's power supply shortage of 1,201 kilowatt-hours (KWh) in October was the worst since January 2017, data from federal grid regulator POSOCO showed.</p>.<p>Coal's share in India's electricity generation jumped to 70.6% in October from an average of 66.5% in September, the data showed.</p>.<p>More than half of India's coal-fired capacity now has inventories of three days or less, data from the power ministry shows.</p>.<p>The average coal inventory held by power plants would last four days, down two-thirds from the average of 12 days two months ago.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>India's electricity demand grew 4.1% in October, with supply falling short of demand by 1%, despite a rise of 1.8% in coal-fired generation and an increase of 28.4% in solar output, a Reuters analysis of government data showed.</p>.<p>Demand boosted by increased economic activity after the second wave of coronavirus infections caused a shortage of coal that forced India's northern states to cut power last month for up to 14 hours a day.</p>.<p>The rapid demand surge and high global prices have left utilities scrambling for coal, India's dominant fuel for power generation, despite record supplies from state-run Coal India, which has a near-monopoly of production.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/dh-galleries/photos/which-are-the-top-10-most-energy-efficient-states-in-the-country-see-list-1045069">SEEI 2020: Top 10 most energy-efficient states in India</a></strong></p>.<p>India's power supply shortage of 1,201 kilowatt-hours (KWh) in October was the worst since January 2017, data from federal grid regulator POSOCO showed.</p>.<p>Coal's share in India's electricity generation jumped to 70.6% in October from an average of 66.5% in September, the data showed.</p>.<p>More than half of India's coal-fired capacity now has inventories of three days or less, data from the power ministry shows.</p>.<p>The average coal inventory held by power plants would last four days, down two-thirds from the average of 12 days two months ago.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>