Govt working on resource adequacy guidelines, bigger reforms for discoms: Joint Secretary

• Having resource adequacy guidelines in place will help discoms in providing 24×7 power to consumers
• The Power Ministry Joint Secretary said that the government is discussing some bigger reforms to make discoms financially viable

New Delhi: The Ministry of Power is working on resource adequacy guidelines for discoms and some bigger reforms for the power distribution sector, said Joint Secretary Ghanshyam Prasad on Wednesday. Speaking at the CII Energy Conclave, Prasad said, "A focus on 24×7 power can be ensured if discoms properly have resource adequacy in place. There are a few private players who are working in this direction. The government is working on resource adequacy plan guidelines so that discoms can be integrated at the state level and then more at national level. The advantage will be lesser resource requirement."

Resource adequacy is a power utility's ability to meet consumers' energy needs at all times. Having such a guideline in place will help discoms in providing 24×7 power to consumers.

Govt working on bigger reforms for discoms: Joint Secretary

The senior Power Ministry official also said that the government is discussing some bigger reforms to make discoms financially viable. Steps like de-regulation of the sector and making regulation adaptability more industry friendly are being discussed, said Prasad. 

Govt working on Energy Storage Policy: Ghanshyam Prasad

Prasad said that the target announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about non-fossil fuels meeting 50 percent of the energy requirements of the nation by 2030 and the target of 1-Billion-Tonne (BT) reduction in total projected carbon emissions by the same year will be achieved. He urged the industry to come forward and adopt off-river hydro pump storage to integrate renewables. The Joint Secretary said that the government is in the process of drafting an Energy Storage Policy. 

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