KATHMANDU: Nepal recorded an all-time high electricity demand of 1,650 megawatts on the evening of Laxmi Puja this year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

The peak load was measured at 6:50 p.m. on Sunday, surpassing last year’s Laxmi Puja peak of 1,602 megawatts by 48 megawatts. Despite the festival season, when most industries and factories remain closed, residential and commercial consumption surged to record levels.

The NEA said the entire peak demand was met through domestic power generation, without importing electricity from India. In fact, Nepal exported 1,015 megawatts of surplus power to India during the same period — a significant increase from 253 megawatts exported during last year’s Laxmi Puja peak.

Officials described the milestone as a sign of Nepal’s growing energy self-sufficiency, underscoring the country’s transformation from an electricity-deficient nation to a regional power exporter during its most energy-intensive festival of the year.