Page 4 - Power Ministry

Power sector financer REC likely to lead National Rooftop Solar scheme

Sources said REC will be made the nodal agency for the scheme to spread its reach across the country and plug the inefficiencies

Power consumption dips marginally by 2.3% to 119.07 bn units in Dec: Govt

The country's power consumption dipped 2.3 per cent to 119.07 Billion Units (BU) in December, marking its first monthly decline in eight months due to lower demand for heating equipment, especially in the north, on account of mild winter, according to government data. Earlier in April 2023, power consumption had dipped nearly 1.5 per cent to 130.08 BU compared to 132.02 BU in the year-ago period. In December 2022, power consumption stood at 121.91 BU, higher than 109.17 BU recorded in the same month a year ago, the data showed. The peak power demand met -- the highest supply in a day -- rose to 213.62 GW in December. The peak power supply stood at 205.10 GW in December 2022 and 189.24 GW in December 2021. Experts said that power consumption as well as demand remained lower due to mild winters in the first fortnight of December. However, consumption and demand rose after mercury dipped sharply in the second half of the month, especially in North India. The data showed that peak powe

Union Minister RK Singh targets 43% reduction of emissions by 2030

While highlighting the crucial discussions held during the recently concluded COP28, Singh underscored that per capita emissions in India are among the lowest globally

12 Gw thermal power by next year to meet high demand, says R K Singh

Singh said most states agreed to enhance generation capacity - both conventional (coal) and renewable

Power ministry nudges state govts, gencos to take up insolvent assets

The power ministry is looking at a quicker turnaround of these stressed power plants and enhancing power supply

Power Ministry asks utilities to import 6% of their coal until March

In a letter dated Wednesday and seen by Reuters on Saturday, the ministry asked the companies to blend the imported coal with domestic coal to maintain stocks amid higher consumption

PowerMin issues steps for States to meet rising electricity demand

The ministry has also asked states to expedite commissioning of new units of thermal, solar and wind

269 inter-state power transmission projects completed since 2014: Govt

As many as 269 inter-state power transmission projects have been completed since 2014, which includes 45 projects under tariff-based competitive bidding mode, Parliament was informed on Thursday. "269 inter-state Transmission System (ISTS) projects have been completed since 2014, out of which 45 projects are under Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) mode and 224 projects, executed by Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID), are under Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM) mode," Union Power Minister R K Singh said in a written reply to Lok Sabha on Thursday. Singh further informed the House that as many as 63 ISTS projects are under progress, out of which 32 projects are under TBCB mode and 31 projects being executed by POWERGRID are under RTM mode. ISTS projects are not awarded under engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) or build, operate, transfer (BOT) mode. ISTS projects are awarded either through TBCB mode to successful bidders with the lowest quoted tariff or ..

States' dues to gencos halved to Rs 61,025 cr, says Power Minister

The total outstanding dues of states to power generating companies (gencos) have reduced by almost 50 per cent to Rs 61,025 crore, Parliament was informed on Thursday. There has been significant improvement in the realisation of dues of power generating companies post implementation of Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and Related Matters) Rules, 2022, promulgated on June 3, 2022, Union Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy RK Singh informed the Lok Sabha. "The total outstanding dues of states towards generating companies reported on PRAAPTI Portal, which were at Rs 1,20,540 crore as on 03.06.2022, have been reduced to Rs 61,025 crore as on 24.07.2023 with the timely payment of twelve (12) equated monthly instalments (EMIs)," the minister said. Distribution companies are also paying their current dues in time to avoid regulations under the rule. However, some state gencos have sought working capital assistance from PFC and REC for procurement of coal pending the realisation

Coal stock with thermal power plants up by 28%, touches 33.46 mn tonne

The Ministries of Coal, Railways, and Power are working closely together to ensure the continued availability of coal for all thermal power plant

Transmission planning should take renewable energy into account: Minister

R K Singh told officials that by 2030, the country's installed power capacity is likely to grow to over 777 GW

Power Minister Atishi falls ill, DERC chairman's oath postponed to July 6

Delhi Power Minister Atishi, who was scheduled to administer the oath of office to DERC chairperson-designate Justice (retd) Umesh Kumar on Monday, suddenly faced a "health issue" leading to postponement of the event to July 6, officials said. Kumar, the former Allahabad High Court judge, was appointed chairman of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on June 21. The AAP dispensation has challenged his appointment in the Supreme Court. The appointment of DERC chairman is the latest flashpoint between the Delhi government and the lieutenant governor's office, following the Centre's ordinance on control of services. The AAP has also challenged the ordinance in the apex court. According to the Raj Niwas officials, Atishi wrote to the chairman-designate and asked for his availability to take the oath in her presence. "He accordingly confirmed the same," they said. Later, the event was postponed after Atishi took ill, the officials said. The Delhi government, in a statemen

Atishi writes to new DERC chief, requests him to take oath on July 3 or 4

Delhi Power Minister Atishi on Friday wrote to newly appointed DERC Chairman Justice (Retd) Umesh Kumar and requested him to take oath of office on July 3 or 4, sources said. Justice Kumar was appointed chairman of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on June 21. Lt Governor VK Saxena had earlier this week written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, flagging the "unnecessary delay" in administering the oath of office to Justice Kumar and said it should be done without further delay. Sources said Kejriwal forwarded the letter to Atishi the same day and asked her to administer the oath "as early as possible". In her communication to Justice Kumar, Atishi blamed the Power department for the confusion. Justice Kumar, a former Allahabad High Court judge, in a letter to the department, had said it was only after he was communicated that the minister would not be available in the national capital after June 29 that he came to Delhi. He said he had made himself available to

Ensure adequate supply, plan for future: Govt guideline for power discoms

The guidelines provide an organisational framework to ensure that there is no dearth of resources to fulfil the future power demand

Power Min revises biomass co-firing policy to enable purchase of pellets

The power ministry on Tuesday said it has revised the biomass co-firing policy to enable the purchase of biomass pellets by power plants. The decision would encourage farmers, entrepreneurs as well as thermal power utilities to strive to establish a sustainable biomass supply chain, the ministry said in a statement. "Ministry of Power (MoP) has decided to benchmark the prices of biomass pellets used for co-firing in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs). Ministry of Power has revised biomass Co-Firing Policy for enabling the purchase of biomass pellets by Power Plants at benchmark price," it said. The benchmarked price shall take into account the business viability, impact on electricity tariff and efficient and faster pellet procurement by power utilities. Price benchmarking of pellets will enable the TPPs as well as pellet vendors to establish a sustainable supply mechanism for co-firing of pellets. The benchmarked price, as finalised by the committee under CEA, will be effective from Janu

Time of Day power tariff: Why you may have to pay higher electricity bills

The latest amendment to tariff rules by the Ministry of Power is expected to impact the electricity bills of consumers in India. Here's how the bills will change

MoS Power urges industry to adopt advanced tech to become competitive

Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar on Monday urged the industry to adopt advanced technologies for their operations in order to compete at the global level. The Minister of State (MoS) for Power was speaking at the inauguration of 'Advance Industrial Technology Demonstration Centre' at National Power Training Institute (NPTI) at Badarpur here. "Advance technology is a must for the growth of the country. Today, if we have to compete with the world, we will have to adopt advanced technologies," Gurjar, who is also the MoS for Heavy Industries, said. Reduced consumption of energy will bring the production cost of various industries and help them to compete in the market, he said. NPTI Director General (DG) Tripta Thakur said industries like iron and steel, cement, pulp & paper, and textile together contribute around 30 per cent to the total commercial energy consumption in India. "The institute under the guidance of the Ministry of Power will educate on best practices and technologies

India to cut power tariff during solar hours, raise for peak hours

The system is expected to reduce demand on the grid during peak times when many Indian households crank up their use of airconditioning after work

Power sector transforms into surplus from deficit in nine years: R K Singh

India's power sector underwent a transformation phase to become "surplus" from a deficit in the last nine years, Union Minister R K Singh said on Thursday. More than 185 gigawatt (GW) of generation capacity has been added "transforming the country from a power deficit to a power surplus", the Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister said while addressing a conference on the achievements of his ministry here. The total installed power generation capacity currently is 416 GW. The installed capacity is now close to double the peak demand and India is exporting power to neighbouring countries, he said. The entire world has seen how India's power sector transformed in the last nine years, the minister said. The maximum demand till date has only been 221 GW, he said. For transmission of power, 1.97 lakh circuit kilometres (ckm) of transmission lines have been added connecting the whole country into one grid running on one frequency with the capability of transferring 1.12 lakh MW fro

Bengal power minister meets CESC officials to discuss power cuts issue

West Bengal Power Minister Aroop Biswas on Monday held a meeting with top CESC officials to discuss the issue of power cuts in the city and its adjoining areas. Kolkata, Sreerampore, Barrackpore, Dum Dum and Howrah have been witnessing frequent power cuts since the past fortnight. Expressing concern, Biswas said the power cuts were tarnishing the image of the state government. He directed the power utility company to ensure uninterrupted power supply and increase manpower to carry out fault repairs without delay. CESC had earlier claimed that transformers were tripping because people were installing air conditioners in violation of sanctioned load.