Union Minister of Power Shri Manohar Lal said the power sector in India is poised for significant expansion in the coming years, driven by the country’s growing economy and rising electricity demand. He emphasised that a thriving power sector will be far more critical than currently imagined, making it essential for distribution companies (DISCOMs) to be financially strong and operationally efficient.
“The growing economy requires a thriving power sector far more than we can imagine today. In such a scenario, it is crucial for our DISCOMs to be strong, prosperous, and financially empowered,” the Minister said.
He added that stronger DISCOMs would translate into improved services and greater sensitivity towards the needs of consumers.
Address at EDICON 2026
The Minister was delivering the inaugural address at the Electricity Distribution Industry Conference (EDICON): 2026, held on January 21–22, 2026. The conference is being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Power, in collaboration with the All India Discoms Association (AIDA).
Push for Cost-Reflective Tariffs
During his address, Shri Manohar Lal urged State Electricity Regulatory Commissions to move towards cost-reflective tariffs, while ensuring that targeted subsidies continue for needy consumers in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act.
AIDA Annual Report Unveiled
At the event, the Minister unveiled the first publication of AIDA’s annual report titled “India Discoms: 2025.” The report provides an outlook on the electricity distribution sector, highlighting ongoing efforts by DISCOMs to improve reliability of supply and operational efficiency, along with key challenges faced by the sector.
The report also outlines initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Power and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to address these challenges, including key features of the Draft Electricity Amendment Bill and the India Energy Stack. In addition, the publication features thirteen articles by eminent personalities from the power sector and a summary of AIDA’s activities during 2025.
Awards for Excellence in Distribution
The Minister also presented Gold and Silver awards to 12 DISCOMs across six categories. Award-winning utilities represented states including Gujarat, Odisha, Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
The award categories covered improvements in rural revenue recovery, use of smart meter data, consumer satisfaction through digital payments, renewable energy integration, agricultural feeder solarisation, and effective change management to enhance consumer services.
Senior Officials in Attendance
The event was attended by senior officials and industry leaders, including Shri Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power; Shri Lokesh Chandra, CMD, MSEDCL and President, AIDA; Dr Ashish Kumar Goel, Chairperson, UPPCL and General Secretary, AIDA; Shri Alok Kumar, Director General, AIDA; along with other eminent personalities from the power sector.
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