Power demand in Chennai hit a new high of over 5,000 MW on June 10, 2026, according to India and other sources. Power outages occurred in various parts of the city during the night due to high demand. Other accounts state that Chennai recorded a peak power demand of 3,738 MW on the same date, when the temperature was 42°C. The previous peak demand is also contested: India reported it was 4,966 MW; other sources reported 4,852 MW on May 22, 2026, or 4,809 MW in May 2026. According to dtnext.in, the prior peak before June 10 was 3,660 MW. Newstodaynet.com reported that Chennai reached 5,008 MW on June 12, 2026. DTNext.in reported that power demand spikes between 10 pm and 12–1 am, and that more than one air conditioner is installed in many homes, with each unit consuming power equal to 25–30 tube lights. To maintain grid stability, TNPDCL conducted brief shutdowns of select distribution transformers in a few localities, switching off one or two transformers for 20 to 30 minutes. Electricity demand in India exceeded 270 gigawatts during a heatwave in May 2026, according to cnbctv18.com, and nighttime power outages were also reported in New Delhi, Noida, and Odisha during that period. Residents in South Chennai reported frequent power cuts with short intervals in the days preceding May 22, 2026, according to cnbctv18.com.