R.K. Chugh, president, IEEMA, is optimistic about the industry’s prospects. “Electrical equipment manufacturers will see a resurgent market for products as well as digital solutions over a five-year horizon, primarily on the back of reform measures,” he says. “Metering will remain buoyant, considering the tremendous scope for smart meter penetration.”
Chugh brings to the table over three decades of diverse business experience in the fields of power transmission and distribution, as well as automation and drives. He was elected president of IEEMA for 2019-20 in September 2019. Prior to this, he was executive council member and director on the board of IEEMA, and represented the association in the Power Sector Skills Council and various other bodies such as the Capital Goods Committee of CII.
He is also Executive Vice President – industry interface at Siemens Limited. He has been instrumental in diversifying and growing the company’s portfolio of smart grid products, systems and solutions across industries and utilities in South Asia region. He spearheaded the localisation and manufacture of various Siemens products and devices that cater to the domestic and global markets by opening twin factories at Goa. He has also been location head for Siemens’ Gurgaon corporate office.
On the trends and outlook for the sector, Chugh says, “Higher renewable penetration and all electric mobility by 2030 will open up huge markets for new products. Grid-scale storage will become a necessity as renewables begin to penetrate to levels beyond 25-30 per cent.
“With the end of UDAY 1.0 and Saubhagya, the industry is looking forward to new reforms to spur growth. Power distribution continues to be the Achilles’ heel of the power sector, despite the UDAY 1.0 intervention. The policy reforms under UDAY 2.0 and the new tariff structure are likely to make discoms responsive, accountable and cost efficient. With these measures, discoms will be able to buy more power from the trading platform, at a lower cost,” he says.
Chugh has a participative style of management and believes in vesting confidence in his colleagues and building competency. He is an electrical engineer from the Delhi College of Engineering and an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad. He likes to maintain a work-life balance and allocates time prudently between his personal and work lives. His family includes his wife and their two children, who are professionally well settled.