Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Manipur is reeling from a massive electricity deficit. The Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited announced rotational power cuts on September 16 to keep the grid running. The state is short by 90 MW.
Demand peaked at 270 MW while supply sits at a thin 180 MW. Officials blamed a mix of problems for the gap. Erratic rainfall linked to El Nino hit hydropower output hard. Coal shortages hampered thermal generation too. The energy market currently lacks enough juice to fill the hole. MSPDCL noted this is a widespread problem affecting several other states.
The utility company is working with the Manipur government to find alternatives and cut the duration of these outages. They want to restore normal service as soon as possible. "The power cuts are a necessary measure to maintain grid stability amid severe power supply constraints," MSPDCL stated.
Updated at 17th September 2026 at 2:00am
MSPDCL Managing Director M. Rabi Singh confirmed that money is not the problem. Despite having enough cash on hand, the state cannot secure the electricity it needs to keep the lights on.
Updated at 17th September 2026 at 2:31pm
This marks the first time in over a decade that Manipur has resorted to rotational load shedding, ending a long period of relative stability that followed the 2014 rollout of prepaid meters. The situation began to slide earlier in 2026 as national grid pressures tightened.
Beyond the market and weather woes, the system is struggling with its own baggage. Localized maintenance shutdowns, rampant power theft, unbilled connections, and massive unpaid utility bills from both private users and government agencies are keeping the grid in a chokehold.
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