Page 2 - Power Sector

India's January power demand hits 16-year high at 143 billion units

Peak power demand in January touched 245 gigawatt (Gw), surpassing the previous summer peak of 243 Gw recorded in June last year

PFC board clears merger with REC to boost scale, efficiency of NBFCs

Power Finance Corporation's board has approved an in-principle merger with subsidiary REC Ltd, following the government's Budget push to restructure public sector NBFCs

How Bihar is attempting power supply cost reduction, sector turnaround

Smart power procurement, ERP mandates and infrastructure upgrades are helping Bihar lower electricity supply costs and improve the efficiency and quality of power distribution

Link power tariff hikes to inflation, suggests expert report to 16th FC

An expert report to the 16th Finance Commission suggests inflation-linked power tariff hikes could ensure timely revenue recovery for discoms and help consumers avoid sharp increases

Rewiring power reforms: Discom profitability is an encouraging start

India's discoms return to profitability after a decade of losses, boosted by fuel cost pass-through, smart metering, and sector reform incentives

Gujarat, Odisha power discoms lead this year's performance rankings

Gujarat's power utilities and Odisha's private discoms emerged as top performers in the latest power ministry rankings, while utilities in Telangana and Jharkhand featured among the weakest performers

A Budget for India's strategic growth, jobs and global competitiveness

The document will be pivotal in outlining agenda that sustains growth and capex, enhances manufacturing and technological capabilities, creates jobs, and makes our economy more dynamic and competitive

India's power reforms: New policy aims to address persistent fault lines

The policy rightly recognises that tariff dysfunction is at the heart of the sector's problems

New national policy pegs ₹200 trn investment for power sector by 2047

It proposes reforms to improve sector viability, including cost-reflective tariffs, tighter regulatory timelines and competition in distribution

Power secretary asks discoms to cut supply costs, rethink coal sourcing

Power secretary Pankaj Agarwal has asked distribution utilities to cut electricity supply costs by securing cheaper coal, rationalising transmission charges and simplifying tariffs, amid concerns over

Centre urges power utilities to cut supply costs to ease burden on users

At present, ‍India ‍has extended a ‌complete waiver of inter-state transmission charges for electricity storage projects until June 2028

Time to cut litigation, review excessive regulation in power sector: Secy

Power secretary calls for cutting litigation and reviewing excessive regulation as India pushes ahead with power sector reforms and regulated competition

Power consumption rises 7% to 138.39 billion units in Dec amid cold wave

Power consumption grew nearly 7 per cent to 138.39 billion units (BU) in December from 129.39 BU a year ago, as the use of heating appliances like geysers and blowers increased on account of severe cold in North India. According to the government data, the peak power demand met or the highest supply during December also rose to 241.20 GW from 224.23 GW recorded in December 2024. The peak power demand had touched an all-time high of about 250 GW in May 2024. The previous all-time high peak power demand of 243.27 GW was recorded in September 2023. However, this summer (April onwards), the record peak power demand was 242.77 GW in June. According to government estimate, peak power demand was expected to touch 277 GW in the summer of 2025. Experts said as cold intensified in December, use of heating appliances like geysers and blowers increased. This increased the demand as well as consumption of electricity in various parts of the country, especially North. They said power consumpti

Power grid ready to meet UP's investment needs: UPPTCL MD Mayur Maheshwari

UPPTCL MD Mayur Maheshwari outlines plans for a green, tech-driven transmission grid to power Uttar Pradesh's $1 trillion economy ambition

CERC mulls moderation in power trading fee to ease electricity prices

Power regulator Central Electricity Regulatory Commission is considering rationalising transaction fees on power trading exchanges, which aims to potentially lower electricity prices as the power sector gears up for market coupling. The development came as the power regulator moves ahead with market coupling, a reform expected to improve efficiency, deepen liquidity and promote price convergence across exchanges. The move could lead to a reduction in the overall cost of power for buyers over a period of time. Market coupling, approved by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission in July this year after more than two years of deliberations, is proposed to be introduced in a phased manner, beginning with the day-ahead market (DAM) from January 2026. Under the mechanism, buy and sell bids across all power exchanges will be aggregated to discover a single market-clearing price, replacing the current system of multiple prices across platforms. An official said CERC has firmed up a

Lack of triggers, weak demand may keep power stocks under pressure

Weak power demand and surplus capacity cloud near-term prospects, but energy transition, nuclear reforms and grid upgrades offer long-term opportunities across India's power sector

Growth potential and earnings factored into GE Vernova's valuations

A large HVDC order win, rising transmission capex and renewable energy push strengthen GE Vernova T&D's earnings outlook, but high valuations already price in much of the upside

SHANTI Bill sets out safety protocols for private sector in nuclear power

SHANTI nuclear law opens nuclear power to private companies through licensing and safety authorisations, while keeping strategic functions with the state and reshaping operator and supplier liability

AI may account for 20% of incremental power demand by 2030: Report

India's power demand surge to 2030 will be driven increasingly by AI and data centres, with tech majors fuelling a sharp rise in electricity consumption and capex

'Share of coal in India's energy mix to shrink to 30-35% by 2047'

The share of coal in India's energy mix will shrink to 30-35 per cent by 2047, and responsible use of the fossil fuel is key to future development, experts said. The coal's share in India's electricity mix is currently at 70 per cent. India achieved over one billion tonnes of coal production in FY25, with coal-based power contributing 72 per cent to total electricity generation. Former chairman and managing director of Coal India Ltd, P M Prasad, said that over the coming three to four decades, the priority must be slashing emissions and rolling out best practices wherever feasible. "By 2047, coal's share is expected to come down from the current levels to around 30-35 per cent. We understand that. But as long as that 35 per cent remains, we must develop responsibly," said Prasad, currently the Chairman of the India Chapter of FutureCoal - the global alliance for sustainable coal. The India Chapter, launched with Coal India Limited and Gainwell Engineering as founding members, ...