Assam Charts Course Towards Electricity Self-Reliance by 2035

With electricity demand in Assam growing steadily at an average of 11% each year, the state is now racing to secure its energy future. If the current trend continues, Assam’s daily power requirement is expected to hit 5,500 megawatts by 2035 - more than double the current demand.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted this growing need on Friday while unveiling THIRD AMPERE, a comprehensive book chronicling the history and transformation of the power sector in Assam and the Northeast. The event, held at the Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati, also marked the 25th anniversary of the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC).

Calling electricity a backbone of development, the Chief Minister noted that rising industrial activity, better infrastructure, and a higher standard of living are behind the state’s surging power needs. He stated that Assam currently produces around 500 megawatts of electricity on its own but relies heavily on the central grid for nearly 1,800 megawatts daily. During the recent summer peak, demand climbed to 2,700 megawatts and could rise further in the coming months.

As Assam eyes rapid economic growth, especially following the Rs. 5 lakh crore investment proposals signed during the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit, the need for reliable power is more urgent than ever. CM Sarma informed that projects worth Rs. 60,000 crore are already in progress, with many expected to become operational by the end of this year - all of which will further strain the state’s power supply.

To tackle this challenge head-on, the Assam government has drawn up a long-term energy strategy aimed at achieving self-reliance in electricity production by 2035. The plan includes generating 5,000 megawatts of solar power and setting up storage systems to hold 8,000 megawatts of solar energy for night-time use. In a major development, the Centre has also approved a 3,000-megawatt thermal power project in the state.

CM Sarma pointed out that over the past four and a half years, Assam’s power sector has seen major improvements, including reduced transmission losses and better efficiency. Losses that once hovered near 30% have been brought down to 15.5%, thanks to better infrastructure and the rollout of smart meters. These reforms have also made state-run power companies profitable, allowing the government to reduce electricity tariffs by Rs. 1 per unit.

The Chief Minister credited the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission for its pivotal role in this transformation, saying the body has worked closely with the government to guide the sector toward a more sustainable and consumer-friendly future.

As part of the silver jubilee celebrations, CM Sarma also released five newly introduced and updated regulatory frameworks that aim to benefit electricity consumers, producers, and suppliers alike.

THIRD AMPERE, the book launched at the event, captures several fascinating chapters from the region’s electric history — such as the electrification of Shillong in 1923, followed by Jorhat in 1924, Guwahati in 1927, and Tezpur in 1933. It also pays tribute to pioneers like Kashinath Saikia and documents milestones like the formation of the Assam State Electricity Board in 1958.

The event was attended by several key figures including AERC Chairperson Kumar Sanjay Krishna, Commission Member Alokeshwar Bhattacharyya, former Chairpersons Subhash Chandra Das and Jayanta Borkakati, and Dr. Samudra Gupta Kashyap, Chancellor of Nagaland University.

Also Read: Assam CM Lauds APDCL For Ranking 2nd Among India’s Top Power Distributors