India Achieves Record Power Demand of 250 GW, Energy Shortages at Just 0.1%
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New Delhi, Jan 1 (NationPress) India has successfully achieved a peak power demand of 250 GW during the current fiscal year (FY25), with energy shortages plummeting to a mere 0.1 percent, as reported by the government on Wednesday.
The year 2024 stands as a pivotal moment for India’s power sector, showcasing remarkable progress in energy generation, transmission, and distribution.
The Ministry of Power stated that due to significant enhancements in generation and transmission capabilities, national energy shortages have nearly vanished at 0.1 percent in FY 2024-25, a substantial reduction from 4.2 percent back in FY 2013-14.
In its year-end assessment, the ministry highlighted that the per capita electricity consumption in India has risen to 1,395 kWh for 2023-24, which signifies a 45.8 percent increase (equivalent to 438 kWh) from 957 kWh recorded in 2013-14.
“Electrification of villages and households nationwide has been achieved, marking a significant milestone in India’s energy landscape. The average electricity availability in rural regions has improved from 12.5 hours in 2014 to 21.9 hours, while urban areas benefit from as much as 23.4 hours of power supply, indicating substantial advancements in the dependability and accessibility of electricity services,” the ministry noted.
The total installed power generation capacity of the country has surged by 83.8 percent, rising from 249 GW (as of March 31, 2014) to 457 GW (as of November 30, 2024).
As of December 2024, domestic coal-based (DCB) power plants stored 41.4 MT of coal, with plans to increase this to 50 MT by March 2025.
Consistent coal supply during the first and second quarters of FY 2025 facilitated the accomplishment of the peak demand of 250 GW in May of the previous year.
The government has finalized the National Electricity Plan for the period from 2023 to 2032, aimed at meeting a peak demand of 458 GW by 2032, with an estimated total investment of Rs 9.15 lakh crore.
Under the prior plan from 2017-22, around 17,700 circuit kilometers (ckm) of lines and 73 GVA of transformation capacity were added annually. The new plan aims to expand the transmission network from 4.91 lakh ckm in 2024 to 6.48 lakh ckm by 2032, as per ministry updates.
During this timeframe, the transformation capacity is projected to grow from 1,290 GVA to 2,342 GVA.
“An additional nine high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines with a capacity of 33.25 GW will be incorporated, supplementing the existing 33.5 GW. The inter-regional transfer capacity will rise from 119 GW to 168 GW. This strategy encompasses the network of 220 kV and above,” the ministry remarked.
Under the revamped distribution sector scheme (RDSS), a total of 19,79,24,902 prepaid smart meters, 52,52,692 DT meters, and 2,10,704 feeder meters have been approved at a cost of Rs 1,30,670.88 crore.
“With revolutionary initiatives like universal electrification, improved rural power availability, and the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies, India is decisively progressing towards becoming a global energy leader,” the ministry emphasized.
