HERC Chairman meets Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Discusses key issues in Power Sector

Chandigarh Nov 16 – The Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), Sh. Nand Lal Sharma, called on Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Friday evening. This was the first meeting between the HERC Chairman and the Chief Minister following the formation of the newly elected government. During the meeting, several significant issues were discussed, including improvements in the power sector, the promotion of solar energy, improving thermal power plants, and the effective implementation of central government schemes related to the power sector. The importance of reducing AT&C losses was also discussed, emphasizing its role in enhancing electricity distribution efficiency, minimizing revenue gaps, and ensuring a more reliable power supply in Haryana.

It is noteworthy that under Section 86(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission provides technical advice to the state government on matters such as restructuring, reorganization, production, transmission, and distribution of electricity. In this context, HERC Chairman Sharma’s meeting with Chief Minister Saini highlighted the need to improve Haryana’s thermal plants, enhance solar energy usage, and implement rooftop solar initiatives more efficiently. The discussion also emphasized the revolutionary implementation of the Prime Minister’s “Har Ghar Surya Yojana”.

Mr. Sharma informed the Chief Minister that during his tenure as CMD of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), his significant contributions led to the successful formulation of the scheme in collaboration with the then Union Power Minister. He added that the scheme will prove to be a milestone in achieving the Government of India’s target of generating 500 GW of green energy by 2030. As the current Chairman of HERC, his responsibility is to formulate effective relevant regulations and ensure their implementation in accordance with the Electricity Act of 2003. Mr. Sharma elaborated on the “Har Ghar Surya Yojana,” stating that it is an initiative of the Government of India under which solar panels will be installed on homes to provide free electricity. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi on February 13, 2024. The initiative aims to bring light to the lives of underprivileged families. Subsidies are provided to Antyodaya families for installing solar panels, potentially saving the central government approximately Rs 75,000 crore annually.

In addition to this, the meeting also addressed the current challenges in the power sector and their solutions. On July 31 this year, the state’s peak power demand reached 14,662 MW, which was effectively managed. Currently, Haryana has an installed power capacity of 14,943.92 MW, and the number of electricity consumers in the state has grown to approximately 8.1 million.