According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) 2017 Load Generation Balance Report, a study on the anticipated power supply position for financial year (FY) 2017-18, India is expecting a power surplus of 8.8 percent and peak surplus of 6.8 percent in the country during 2017-18.

The CEA estimates that the Eastern region will meet its demand almost entirely while the other four regions will have a surplus varying from 3 percent to 13 percent with 3 percent in the North-Eastern region, 7.4 percent in the Southern region, 9.8 percent in the Northern region, and 13 percent in the Western region. In terms of peak power, the Northern, Western, Eastern, Southern, and North-Eastern regions are likely to have peak surpluses of 6.7 percent, 17.2 percent, 1 percent, 10 percent, and 2.7 percent respectively.

Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Goa, Odisha, West Bengal, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Sikkim are likely to have both a peak and energy surplus on an annual basis.

Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka, Telangana, Puducherry, and Manipur are anticipated to have surplus on an annual basis, but only in terms of energy. To meet the peak deficit, these states may arrange power from surplus states. All other states in the country are likely to have a demand-supply gap of varying degrees both in terms of energy and peak power.

The assessment of the anticipated power supply position in the country during FY2017-18 has been made taking into consideration the power availability from various projects in operation, including non-conventional energy sources, fuel availability, and anticipated water availability at hydroelectric projects. A capacity addition of 13,405 MW during the FY 2017-18 comprising 11,366 MW of thermal, 1,539 MW of hydro and 500 MW of nuclear power projects has been considered.

The CEA also stated that during the FY 2016-17, total ex-bus energy availability increased by 4.1 percent over the previous year, and the peak met increased by 5.7 percent. The energy requirement registered a growth of 2.6 percent during the year against the projected growth of 9 percent and peak demand registered a growth of 4 percent against the projected growth of 7.8 percent.

Mercom previously reported, India recorded a low power supply deficit of 0.7 percent in the financial year (FY) 2016-17. More than 1,134,631 million units of electricity were produced, which was 7,461 million units less than the targeted 1,142,092 million units, according to CEA. The supply deficit was 0.7 percent and the peak deficit stood at 1.6 percent. A senior official at the CEA told that the deficit in FY2016-17 was lowest since the agency started maintaining the reports in 1992.