Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the chief minister, emphasized the significance of utilizing the state’s water resources and stated that a “Centralized Cell” must be established for effective management of the sale and purchase of power in order to increase revenue in the state. According to the Chief Minister, nature has blessed Himachal with an abundance of water resources. However, only 11,150 MW of the state’s total hydropower potential has been used through 172 hydro projects as of this writing.
In order to revolutionize the coordination of power trading strategies and transactions within the state’s energy sector, the government of Himachal Pradesh has decided to create a Single Energy Trading Desk. According to Chief Minister Sukhu, starting in the fiscal year 2024–2025, this action would reshape the Himachal Pradesh energy management landscape by ensuring effective short–medium–long–term planning and the economic disposition of energy resources.
Sukhu underscored the need for enhanced coordination among three key entities i.e. the Directorate of Energy (DOE), Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) and Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL).
He said that the lack of communication and disparate pricing strategies have sometimes led to power being sold at suboptimal rates and purchased at higher costs, exacerbating inefficiencies and losses to the state exchequer.