Question : Demand and Supply of Power

(a) whether there is mismatch in demand and supply of power in various States of our country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether several states are suffering from power shortage especially in villages, remote and tribal areas and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether Uttar Pradesh has a peak demand-supply gap of 4.1% which is more than the all-India average of 0.9%, the highest in the country after two-three small States and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to address the above issue;

(d) whether Government is planning to amend the Electricity Act to levy hefty penalties on power distribution companies for load shedding and make provisions for direct subsidy transfers by States to power consumers and if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to provide “power for all” in the country?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER AND
NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI R. K. SINGH )

(a) : The details of demand and supply of power in various States of our country, in terms of electrical energy and peak demand during the current year 2017-18 (up to Dec, 2017) is at Annex.

(b) : There are some states in the country where demand-supply gap is higher than the average all India demand-supply gap. However, this gap is generally on account of factors, other than inadequacy of power in the country.

(c) : Uttar Pradesh had a peak demand-supply gap of 4.1% against all India average of 0.9% during the period April to July, 2017. However, as per latest power supply position (April- Dec,2017), Uttar Pradesh has a peak demand-supply gap of 10.9% against all India average of 2.0%.

Making arrangement of appropriate quantum of power from various sources to meet the demand of electricity consumers within the state is in the purview of the concerned State Distribution Companies. Government of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments by establishing power plants in Central Sector through Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) and allocating power from them to the States / UTs. Enough power is available in the country and the State can purchase power through various market mechanisms including Power Exchanges to meet the shortage.

(d) : Proposal to provide for penalties on power distribution companies for gratuitous load shedding and making provisions for direct subsidy transfers by States to power consumers are issues under discussion for finalisation of Amendments to the Electricity Act.

(e) : Government of India has taken up a joint initiative with all States/UTs for ensuring 24x7 power supply to all consumers. This initiative aims at ensuring uninterrupted supply of quality power to existing consumers and providing access to electricity to all unconnected consumers in a phased manner by 2019.

Government of India is supplementing efforts of State Government through works sanctioned under various ongoing Central Government schemes viz. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gramin Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA), Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) etc. These schemes involve Rural Electrification, strengthening & augmentation of transmission and distribution system, and performance improvement of DISCOMs, etc.

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