January just hit a record for India's electricity demand—and it's not even summer yet. The unexpected spike? A harsh cold wave sent heating demand through the roof across the country. Normally you'd expect peak consumption during the hot months, but this time extreme winter conditions flipped the script. When millions of people crank up heaters simultaneously, the grid shows just how sensitive power systems are to weather shifts. For those tracking macro indicators, this is worth noting: energy spikes like this often signal broader economic activity and consumption patterns. It's a reminder that commodity and energy markets don't always follow textbook seasonality—geopolitical, weather-related shocks can reshape demand curves overnight.