The Ministry of Power has issued a directive to all states and union territories (UTs), stressing the importance of adhering to resource adequacy guidelines to meet the nation’s escalating electricity demand.
With India projected to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, power consumption has surged by over 79 per cent since 2014. To address this, the ministry has emphasised the need for distribution licensees to ensure round-the-clock power supply, in accordance with Rule 10 of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020. The guidelines mandate states and UTs to prepare resource adequacy plans for a 10-year horizon, with studies completed up to 2031-32 for 23 regions. The ministry has instructed distribution licensees to submit data up to 2033-34 for national-level Resource Adequacy Studies. A detailed letter, dated February 2, 2024, underscores the urgency of compliance with these guidelines to effectively manage the nation’s growing energy needs.