How does the government ensure that electricity supply is ahead of demand?We are growing our generation. Earlier, the focus was on increasing thermal capacity. The priority now is renewable energy, especially solar energy. Since solar energy is not available 24/7, we focus on storage solutions. Nuclear energy will also contribute. The current production capacity is about 8GW, with 12GW in preparation. Our long-term goal is to have 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047 and encourage states to develop at least one project. Continuous power can come from thermal energy, nuclear energy or natural gas. Natural gas is expensive and therefore not a priority. In 2014-15, the supply-demand gap was approximately 5.5%. This falls to 0.1% by 2024-25, mainly due to technical factors. Developed countries are under pressure to close coal-fired power plants. What policy will India adopt?Our top priority is clean and green energy. The stability of the power grid requires continuous power supply, and thermal power can meet this requirement. All thermal power projects that can be developed by 2032 have been planned. Approximately 20,000MW of capacity is under development. After this, new thermal power plants may not be needed as India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Existing coal-fired power plants will continue until the end of their lives, but the overall share will gradually decline as renewables expand. How will natural gas shortages affect power generation?I don’t want to comment because this is an evolving situation. Discoms reported profits of around Rs 2,700 crore. However, the industry still suffers from huge debts and accumulated losses. How will this be resolved?Earlier, losses increased as tariffs were not aligned with costs. Governments often announce free or subsidized electricity, so the cost of supply is higher than the charges. In some cases the gap reaches Re 1 per unit. Gradually, states began to address the problem. AT&C’s losses have dropped to about 16% from 23-24% 10 years ago. Illegal connections were removed and the billing system was improved. Despite these improvements, cumulative losses were still around Rs 6.7 billion. Earlier, UDAY planned to transfer telecom debt to state governments. Similar approaches are being considered alongside reforms such as partial privatization. Which states are taking steps toward privatization?Gujarat has already started moving in this direction, Haryana is exploring the option and Uttar Pradesh is considering further private participation. Haryana has come up with a model where a separate company will take care of agricultural power connections. Agricultural feeders will be separated and power accounting will become clearer. Farmer organizations protested against privatization in some places. What message does the center want to send to them to address their concerns?Farmers primarily need reliable electricity for irrigation. Whether the supply comes from a government company or a private company, there will be no impact on operations. Subsidies will continue. There is talk of opening two disco shops in the same area so that consumers can benefit from competition. Considering the idea of ​​multiple vendors?Yes, under review. The quality of the power cannot be distinguished because once the power enters the network, it becomes mixed. The system functions somewhat like the telecommunications sector, with consumers choosing their service providers. The physical network will remain unchanged. Wires and gauges will not change. Only the suppliers providing power behind the network will change, and a digital system will track how much power each supplier provides. Consumers will be able to choose suppliers based primarily on tariffs. The concept is still in its early stages and requires legal and policy approval before implementation. When will all homes be equipped with smart meters? n There was initial resistance, especially in rural areas, but people are starting to understand the benefits. With prepaid smart meters, companies can also receive payments in advance. If these measures are widely adopted, nearly Rs 100 crore could come into the system as an advance, thereby improving liquidity in the power sector and reducing the need for loans. Some states already offer incentives for prepaid meters. Will new hydropower projects emerge in Kashmir after Indus Waters Treaty suspension?Some plants are already operational and desilting work is underway to restore reservoir capacity. Three to four projects that were on hold have also been launched. Other projects are being planned and site selection is underway. There are also proposals to divert the water towards Punjab and further towards Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi through canals or tunnels. There are two or three possible routes; we have to see which one can be built faster and be financially viable. A scheme proposed through Jammu City may not be feasible. The feasibility of an alternative route around the city is being examined.