R K Singh Stresses Need to Focus on PSPs to Meet Demand During Non-Solar Hours
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th Nov. National Conference of Power and Renewable Energy Ministers of States and UTs was held on 06th and 07thNovember 2023 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
- K Singh, Union Minister of Power and NRE presided over the conference. Secretary (Power), Secretary (MNRE), Deputy CMs/ Power/ NRE Ministers of States along with Principal Secretaries of States and UTs attended the conference.
Detailed deliberations were held with focus on (I) India’s NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) and new RPO (Renewable Purchase Obligations), PM KUSUM Scheme, Rooftop Solar Scheme, National Green Hydrogen Mission, Solar Parks, Green Energy Corridors, Issues related to PLI Scheme, Wind Energy and Green Open Access Rules; (II) Review of RDSS (Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme), Viability Matrices of DISCOMs, Increasing Power Demand and Capacity Addition, Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) and (III) National Transmission Plan.
Implementation of Rights of Electricity Consumer Rules, Carbon Market, Energy Transition, Role of States in e-mobility and EESL Dues in Street lights National Programme were also discussed.
The states provided their inputs and suggestions on each of these pertinent issues.
Delivering the closing remarks and expressing satisfaction on the outcomes of the conference on November 7, 2023, the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy told the Power Ministers of States that it would be desirable to hold the State Power and New & Renewable Energy Ministers’ conference once in every quarter. The Minister congratulated Team India of power sector as enablers of the country’s economic growth and said that power system is stronger and more viable.
He advised them to push the extra mile so as to make it totally viable.
“Fix electricity tariff regularly, subsidy may be given by the States as per their policy”
Outlining the roadmap for the same, the Minister said that the first necessary step is to fix the electricity tariff regularly, which means that it has to be fixed in the beginning of March of every year, before the financial year begins. Second, the tariff has to be cost-reflective. States can give whatever subsidy they want, but the subsidy has to be paid for.
“Review the performance of power sector on a regular basis”
The Union Power & NRE Minister said that all government departments must be put on prepaid system, which will thereby ensure payments from government departments automatically. Shri R.K. Singh also asked the States and UTs to review the performance of the power sector on a regular basis.
“Ministers and senior officers of states should regularly review and monitor the performance of discoms and generation companies to see that the energy accounts have been prepared, billing efficiency is above 87%, collection efficiency is above 97%. Only then will accountability come into the system and the system will get maintained and get better,” Shri Singh added.
The Minister assured all states that the Government of India will work together with the States, as one team.
Comments are closed.