Commemorative volume on evolution of power sector in Assam, Northeast launched
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: In Assam, electricity demand has risen by an average of 11 per cent annually over the past four years, a growth driven by infrastructural expansion, industrialisation, and steadily improving standards of living. If this trend persists, the state’s daily electricity requirement is expected to reach 5,500 megawatts by 2035.
Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma underscored this today at the release of ‘Third Ampere’, a volume chronicling the beginning, evolution, and transformation of the power sector in Assam and the Northeast. The event, held at the Assam Administrative Staff College, also marked the silver jubilee of the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC), during which the Chief Minister released five newly introduced and revised regulatory frameworks developed by the AERC. AERC chairman Kumar Sanjay Krisha was present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister observed that electricity is intrinsically linked to the development of any region, as power availability and affordability invariably come to the fore with the onset of industrial and developmental activity. He noted that Assam presently generates about 500 megawatts of electricity independently while drawing nearly 1,800 megawatts daily from the central grid. In recent weeks, he added, peak summer demand surged to 2,700 megawatts, a figure that might rise to 2,900 megawatts by September if current patterns persist.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the measures undertaken by the government in the power sector over the past four and a half years. He noted that this period has seen substantial investment and significant infrastructural reform, resulting in a marked reduction in power transmission and distribution losses, from nearly 29-30% down to 15.5%.
Dr. Sarma acknowledged the vital role played by the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) in shaping the state’s power sector over the past 25 years. He emphasized that, in steering the sector towards a sustainable future, the Commission has worked in close coordination with the state government. He expressed hope that the book ‘THIRD AMPERE’ would provide readers with a comprehensive view of Assam’s power sector – its historical evolution, present accomplishments, and future trajectory. He further stated that the five newly introduced and revised regulatory frameworks would bring meaningful benefits to electricity consumers, producers, and distributors alike.
Notably, ‘THIRD AMPERE’ includes many fascinating details, including the electrification of Shillong in 1923, making it the first city in undivided Assam and the entire Northeast to be electrified, followed by the lighting of electric bulbs in Jorhat in 1924 and the commencement of electrification in Guwahati and Tezpur in 1927 and 1933, respectively. The book also highlights the contributions of Kashinath Saikia, a pioneering figure in Assam’s electricity generation, as well as the establishment of the Assam State Electricity Board in 1958, among other significant milestones.
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