RK Singh – Union Minister for Power:

I chaired a meeting with the Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries of Power and CMDs of DISCOMs of all the States today.

MoS for Power, Shri Krishan Pal jee, Secretary Power and Senior officials from Ministry Of Power & MNRE India were present at the meeting.

I pointed out that India’s Power sector had witnessed tremendous growth in the last seven years, in Generation, Transmission & Distribution.

Today, with the total installed generation capacity of 384GW including renewable energy capacity of 98GW, we have shifted from a power deficit to a power surplus country.

We have ensured universal access, connected every home, but we still have work to do. We must ensure reliable and sustainable 24-hour power-supply to every household in India. For that a robust and sustainable Distribution system is a must.

I stated that there is a direct co-relationship between the financial sustainability of the DISCOMS and Consumer Service Standards.

I discussed the Reforms Agenda of the Ministry of Power and discussed the Guidelines of the new INR 3,03,758 crore-Revamped Reforms based and Results linked Distribution Scheme that aims to improve operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of DISCOMs.

I informed the States that they can access funds under the scheme for all their requirements for strengthening and modernization, but they must take steps to reduce the losses to ensure the viability, and sustainability of DISCOMs.

The objective of the scheme is to build a modern and future ready Distribution Sector to fulfil the expectations of all electricity consumers and pave the path for accelerated economic growth of the country.

I envision the most modern and advanced technology strengthening the power sector with a consumer-centric approach, including metering of all feeders transformers, and electricity-connections, automatic accounting, and transparent billing, with AI governed and monitored transmission and distribution.

I also reviewed the progress of Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), it was decided that the States must adhere to the timelines for the completion and closure of the projects sanctioned under these schemes.

The implementation of PM-KUSUM, Rooftop Solar Programme, Status of RPO Compliances were also reviewed. All the States were asked to align their RPO trajectories with the National RPO and comply with it.

States were also asked to prepare and send proposals for Feeder Level Solarization under the PM-KUSUM scheme so that maximum benefit can be passed on to the farmers to increase their income.