India's Power Shortage Tops Summer Levels As El Nino Dries Up Hydropower

India's peak power shortages have surpassed levels seen during this year's summer heat waves as the potentially driest monsoon in 17 years crimps hydropower generation.Nighttime shortfalls have surged to as much as 7.7 gigawatts this month, exceeding levels seen in April-May when scorching summer temperatures drove electricity consumption to a record, data from India's power ministry showed.Hydropower generation fell 12% from a year earlier in the first three weeks of September, putting it on course for a fifth straight monthly decline and forcing coal plants to shoulder more demand. Coal-fired production has climbed 18% this month, and 11% in the fiscal year so far, as plants run harder to meet the requirements from industries and cooling needs.The strain on the power system follows deficient rainfall during the monsoon. A powerful El Nino has kept precipitation during the June to September season 15% below normal levels.