Chandigarh Nov 16 : The Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC),   Nand Lal Sharma, called on Haryana Chief Minister   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.

“Participants also discussed the need to reduce AT&C losses.”

Among the significant issues discussed at the meeting were the power sector’s improvements, the advancement of solar energy, the modernisation of thermal power plants, and the effective implementation of central government initiatives related to the power sector. The discussion focused on reducing AT&C losses, emphasising how it could enhance energy distribution efficiency, bridge revenue disparities, and provide a more stable power supply in Haryana.

HERC Chairman and CM Saini emphasised the necessity of upgrading Haryana’s thermal plants

Notably, under Section 86(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003, the State Energy Regulatory Commission plays a critical role by providing advice to the state government on various matters, including energy generation, transmission, distribution, as well as the restructuring and reorganisation of the energy sector. In this regard, the recent meeting between HERC Chairman Sharma and Chief Minister Saini underscored the importance of several key initiatives. Specifically, the discussions highlighted the pressing need for upgrading Haryana’s thermal plants, expanding the use of solar energy, and enhancing the implementation of rooftop solar projects across the state. Furthermore, the conversation also placed significant emphasis on the groundbreaking execution of the Prime Minister’s “Har Ghar Surya Yojana,” which is poised to bring about a trans formative shift in the state’s renewable energy landscape.

 Government of India’s target of generating 500 GW of green energy by 2030

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.

Sharma elaborated on the “Har Ghar Surya Yojana,” stating that the Government of India launched this initiative to install solar panels on homes and provide free electricity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the proposal on February 13, 2024. The primary goal of the project is to improve low-income families’ quality of life. The national government could save more than Rs 75,000 crore a year by providing incentives to Antyodaya families to install solar panels.

They also discussed the electricity sector and potential solutions.

The discussion also focused on the current issues affecting the electricity sector and potential solutions. On July 31 this year, the state effectively managed the peak power demand, which reached 14,662 MW. 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.