The government has ordered 112 captive coal-based power plants of 50 MW and above to run at maximum output from October 1 to December 31, 2026, invoking emergency powers under Section 11 of the Electricity Act.

The order, dated September 25, requires the plants to generate at full capacity and sell surplus power through exchanges. They must file weekly generation reports with the Central Electricity Authority.

The plants belong to industrial giants including Vedanta, Tata Steel, Hindalco, JSW, UltraTech, Reliance, Indian Oil, BALCO, Hindustan Zinc and Nayara Energy. Together they form a significant chunk of India’s captive generation base.

The directive comes as around 40% of the country’s coal plants report critically low fuel stocks amid weak monsoon-season coal movement linked to El Niño conditions. A separate order keeping Tata Power’s Mundra plant running has also been extended to December 31.

Power demand typically peaks in October as industry ramps up after the monsoon. The government is betting that squeezing every megawatt from captive plants will keep the grid stable through the festival season.