Why Gujarat asked factories to reduce electricity use during evening peak hours
Reuters reported a voluntary 5–11 pm conservation appeal as India’s evening power demand and coal-inventory pressures rose.
On 21 October 2026, Reuters reported that Gujarat asked factories to shift some electricity use away from the 5 pm–11 pm peak window. The appeal was described as voluntary, not a blanket shutdown or proof of a universal blackout schedule.
What the state utility asked
Reuters reported that Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd sent messages urging industries and citizens to conserve power during the evening peak and asked factories to consider shifting production away from those hours. Gujarat also sought additional coal and electricity supply and discussed longer-term projects including storage. The report describes a voluntary request, not a statewide order closing all factories.
The wider supply context
Reuters cited Central Electricity Authority data indicating critically low coal inventories at many coal-fired plants and a higher daily peak demand than a year earlier. Solar output declines toward sunset while cooling, irrigation and industrial loads may remain high. Those pressures help explain demand-response requests, but they do not establish that every district will experience outages. Check the local distribution utility for any binding instruction or area-specific notice.
Editorial note
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Frequently asked questions
Were all factories ordered to close?
No such blanket shutdown is described in the Reuters report; the appeal was voluntary.
Does this prove every area will have power cuts?
No. Check local utility notices for area-specific supply information.