New Delhi, March 20 (BNP): Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar chaired a high-level ministerial meeting with States and Union Territories during the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, focusing on strengthening energy security and accelerating sectoral reforms.
The meeting, held on the second day of the summit, was co-chaired by Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Naik and attended by senior officials and energy ministers from across the country.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister highlighted that India has achieved over 520 GW of installed power capacity and has made significant progress in improving distribution company (DISCOM) performance, expanding smart metering, and reducing power shortages.
He stressed that coordinated efforts between the Centre and States are essential to ensure affordable, efficient, and reliable power supply. Emphasising the importance of energy security amid global uncertainties, he called for increased per capita energy consumption and faster adoption of renewable energy sources.
The Minister also pointed to the potential of nuclear energy as a clean power source and described the SHANTI Act as an important step towards strengthening the energy framework. He assured States of full support from the Centre in implementing necessary legal and administrative reforms.
Speaking at the meeting, Shripad Naik underlined the role of technology and artificial intelligence in transforming the power sector, particularly through initiatives such as smart metering. He noted that nearly half of India’s installed power capacity now comes from non-fossil fuel sources and highlighted the draft National Electricity Policy aimed at achieving long-term energy goals.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Power released two key reports for FY 2024–25 — the Consumer Service Ratings of DISCOMs (CSRD) and the Distribution Utilities Ranking (DUR).
The CSRD report evaluates DISCOMs on parameters such as billing accuracy, grievance redressal, and tariff transparency. Based on performance, utilities are graded from A+ to D to promote competition and service improvement. Of the 66 DISCOMs assessed, six received the top A+ rating, while 21 were rated A and 27 received B+ grades.
Officials said the improved ratings reflect better service delivery and consumer satisfaction, with fewer utilities falling in lower performance categories, indicating an overall positive trend in the power distribution sector.
The meeting underscored the need for collective action to meet rising energy demand while ensuring sustainability, reliability, and affordability across the country
