Tbilisi (GBC) - Domestic electricity consumption increased by 2.1% year-on-year in April 2026 to 1.1 TWh, according to the Galt & Taggart Electricity Market Review, while hydropower generation fell by 19.3%, driven by hydrological conditions. As a result, the combined share of thermal generation and imports in total supply increased to 20.7%, compared to an average of 6% in April 2021-25.

Galt & Taggart analysts note that this once again demonstrates the vulnerability caused by dependence on hydropower and the need for accelerated development of new generation sources.

In the first four months of 2026, electricity consumption increased by 6.6% year-on-year to 5.1 TWh. According to Galt & Taggart, the increase is associated with a particularly cold winter and the activation of the ferroalloys sectors.

In the first four months of 2026, the share of thermal generation and imports in total supply amounted to 44.3%, which exceeds the similar indicator of the previous year (39.2%). The increase was mainly associated with weak hydrology in April and low water levels in the Enguri reservoir at the beginning of the year.

In addition, Turkey was among the main sources of imports for 3 out of 4 months of 2026, which indicates increased competition in imports and possible structural changes.

Overall, the high share of imports and thermal generation once again emphasizes the need for accelerated development of new generation.

Domestic consumption was 1.1 TWh in April 2026, up 2.1% year-on-year. This growth was driven by retail customers (+5.1% y/y) and Abkhazia (+7.3% y/y). Direct customer consumption decreased by 8.5% year-on-year, mainly due to lower activity in crypto mining and data center companies.