UP’s power surge: From 6GW to 8.3GW capacity, 24/7 urban supply fuels industrial boom | India News
NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh has made considerable progress in the past eight years in strengthening its power sector, expanding generation capacity, increasing power supply across the region and nearly doubling the number of household connections under its ‘Roshan Pradesh’ vision to achieve reliable and inclusive energy access.According to official data, the state’s total installed power generation capacity has reached 8,325 megawatts (MW) in 2024-25, as against 7,159 MW in 2016-17 – an increase of 1,166 MW in just eight years.This addition surpasses the capacity addition of 1,110 MW achieved in the entire 21-year period between 1995-96 and 2016-17.Total electricity generation has also increased rapidly, from 3,017 crore kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2016-17 to 3,566 crore kWh in 2024-25 – an addition of 548 crore kWh, surpassing the growth achieved in the 16 years prior to 2017. Officials said the improvement reflects higher operational efficiency and more effective use of generation resources.
Industrial consumption doubled, signaling strong growth
Increased availability of electricity has supported accelerated industrial activity. Between 2021-22 and 2024-25, average annual growth in industrial consumption more than doubled to 8.9 per cent, compared to 4.1 per cent in the 2013-17 period. The government said the surge reflected growing investor confidence supported by stable power supply.Electrification is widespread in the rural hinterlandUttar Pradesh also recorded a big jump in household and rural electrification The number of electricity connections has increased by 102 percent, from 180.13 lakh in 2017 to 363.98 lakh in 2025, adding about 184 lakh new connections in eight years.Similarly, the number of electrified villages increased from 1.28 lakh in 2017 to 2.5 lakh by June 2025, doubling rural coverage and expanding electricity access to many previously untapped settlements.
Reduced damage, longer supply hours
Enhanced grid management and administrative reforms have led to a sharp decline in transmission and distribution (T&D) losses – from 21.47 percent in 2017 to 13.77 percent in 2025. A decline of 7.7 percentage points is seen as a key indicator of efficiency and good performance.Electricity availability has also improved in all regions. The delivery time at district headquarters has increased from 17 hours in 2014-17 to 24 hours at present. Tehsil headquarters now get more than 21 hours of electricity daily, while rural areas get an average of 18 hours, up from 11 earlier. Improved reliability has been particularly beneficial to small businesses, agriculture and the daily lives of rural households.
Energy at the core of development
Officials said these achievements indicate progress towards Uttar Pradesh’s ‘Roshan Pradesh’ goal of ensuring uninterrupted, affordable and quality power. Sustained improvements in generation, coverage and efficiency have positioned energy as an important enabler of the state’s broader economic and industrial growth strategy.
