Indian states decide to provide 24×7 power for all by 2019

Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy

Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister for Power, Coal and Renewable Energy, said that all the states have resolved to provide 24×7 power for all by March 2019.

All states, except LWE affected, have also resolved to electrify all remaining unelectrified villages by 31 December 2016 and states will award contracts in the next 30 days for this work.

Goyal, announcing this at a press conference at the state Power Ministers Conference in Goa, said that states also agreed for providing 100 percent power to all households in 18,452 villages in the country in a mission mode by 1 May 2017.

The participating states also resolved to ensure that operational and financial milestones in the MOU for UDAY would also be implemented.

All states resolved to procure smart meters which are tamper proof and communication enabled. The minister said the cost of these smart meters has been brought down by 60 percent from Rs 8,000 to Rs 3,223 as a result of central procurement.

The minister announced that all India number of 1912 has been started for consumer complaints across the country.

The meeting discussed Hydro power policy and sought to work out ways of reviving small (25 MW or less) stalled hydro projects with cooperation from the states to provide new thrust to the hydro sector. A committee will submit its recommendations by 30 September 2016.