Assam, Meghalaya refuse additional Subansiri energy over excessive tariff considerations
5 min learnApr 8, 2026 12:24 PM IST
Assam and Meghalaya have refused to buy any energy in extra of their allotted share from Subansiri Decrease hydro-electric challenge as this may “unnecessarily inflate their energy buy prices, a burden that finally impacts the top customers.”
At a gathering of the North Jap Regional Energy Committee (NERPC) final month, each states have additionally mentioned they’ve already made ample preparations to satisfy long-term energy wants. Established in 2005 below the Electrical energy Act 2003, NERPC is a discussion board of the seven northeastern states for planning, improvement, and operation of the regional energy sector.
Earlier, in January, Punjab State Energy Company Restricted (PSPCL) declined to acquire its alloted share of 16 MW. “The State Fee has categorically disallowed procurement of energy from Subhansiri Decrease HEP on account of the tariff being provisional, extreme, and never aligned with economical procurement or client curiosity,” PPSCL wrote to Jap Regional Energy Committee.
Price overrun is projected to shoot up Subansiri Decrease’s energy tariff from below Rs 2 per unit projected in 2009 to over Rs 7 per unit in 2026. The typical nationwide tariff of hydel energy generated by the NHPC was Rs 3.15 per unit in 2023-24. Based on NHPC, the “challenge value elevated from Rs 6,285 crores on the 2002 value stage to roughly Rs 26,000 crores on the present value stage, primarily as a result of prolonged development interval, escalation prices, and curiosity throughout development.”
Conceived as India’s largest hydel challenge, 2000-MW Subansiri Decrease took off in 2005 however work remained suspended throughout December 2011 and September 2019 because of native resistance and court docket circumstances over problems with dam security and downstream ecological fallout. The challenge nonetheless faces unresolved compliance points equivalent to limiting hydro peaking (water discharge) within the river to safeguard towards the motion of elephants and different wildlife.
Thus far, three of eight 250MW items of much-delayed Subansiri Decrease have commenced business operation. Half of Subansiri Decrease’s energy — 22% via ‘agency’ allocation, 13% as free energy and 15% via unallocated central share — is envisaged for the north-eastern states.
It’s the extra share from the “unallocated central pool” that Assam and Meghalaya are unwilling to soak up.
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“We don’t have a selection in regards to the allotted share. However we don’t require any extra energy from Subansiri’s unallocated share. One motive is that the value calculations don’t work out. One other is that we’ll quickly get round 200MW from our personal challenge — Leshka Stage-II — within the state,” mentioned Sanjay Goyal, Commissioner & Secretary, Energy, Meghalaya.
The 210 MW Myntdu Leshka Hydro Electrical Venture Stage-II is anticipated to be commissioned in 2027. The run-of-the-river challenge is an growth to the prevailing 3×42 MW items operated on the Myntdu River by the Meghalaya Energy Technology Company Restricted (MePGCL) in Amlarem, West Jaintia Hills.
On the thirty seventh Assembly of the statutory State Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Assam State Electrical energy Regulatory Fee (SERC) on January 21, managing director of Assam Energy Distribution Firm Restricted (APDCL) Rakesh Kumar briefed the SEC members on the problem of improve in tariff over time.
“In sure circumstances, value overruns in era tasks have additionally contributed to the rise; for instance, the Subansiri challenge was initially envisaged at a tariff of round Rs 3 per unit, which has now elevated to roughly Rs 7.70 per unit,” Kumar advised the SEC.
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Of Subansiri Decrease’s present era of 750 MW, Assam’s allotted share is 78 MW (10.4%) with one other 7.5MW (1%) as free energy. Whereas Meghalaya will get no free energy, its agency allocation is 19MW (2.5%). From the unallocated central share, Assam has been allotted an extra 49.65 MW (6.62%) and Meghalaya 36.75 MW (4.9%), which they’ve refused to buy.
The NERPC has requested Assam and Meghalaya to take up the matter “with correct justification for consideration” by Central Electrical energy Authority (CEA) and the Ministry of Energy.
Final month, Assam submitted to the NERPC that APDCL has already executed a lot of energy buy agreements with upcoming crops for the required quantum of energy to satisfy its future long-term demand.
“APDCL has not sought any quantum of energy from the Subansiri Decrease HEP in extra of its Share allocation from the “Agency Energy” and the “Free Energy” of the plant. Accordingly, the surplus hydro allocation from the Subansiri plant will outcome within the improve in Energy Buy Price for APDCL which should be borne by the top customers of the state,” it mentioned.
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Meghalaya Energy Distribution Firm Restricted additionally submitted that the state has “surplus hydro energy, due to this fact it doesn’t require the identical.”
Till a revised directive is issued, mentioned authorities sources, the present allocation and scheduling of energy from Subansiri Decrease will proceed as per the current allocation.
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