Maharashtra now power surplus, tariffs to remain stable: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the state has emerged as a powersurplus region and is fully prepared to meet the growing electricity demand driven by industrial expansion and the rapid growth of data centres reported news agency PTIResponding to a discussion during Question Hour in the Assembly Fadnavis emphasised that the government is focused on ensuring reliable affordable and sustainable power supply while maintaining tariff stabilityState achieves power surplus statusFadnavis informed the House that Maharashtra is currently generating sufficient electricity to meet its needs marking a significant shift from previous years when supply constraints were a concern He said the state is now wellpositioned to support increasing demand from industries and emerging sectors such as data centres reported PTIldquoMaharashtra is power surplus and wellprepared to meet rising demand from industry and data centresrdquo he statedTariff stability with revised consumption modelThe Chief Minister said electricity tariffs will remain stable over the next five years even as the state increases its reliance on renewable energy sources He highlighted changes in the TimeofDay ToD tariff structure to align with evolving consumption patterns reported PTIEarlier incentives were offered for electricity use during latenight hours However with increased solar power generation the state now provides concessions of up to 25 per cent for electricity consumed between 9 am and 5 pm when solar availability is at its peakIndustrial growth drives demand surgeFadnavis pointed out that industrial power consumption in Maharashtra has risen by 23 per cent over the past three years reflecting strong economic growth and expansion across sectorsHe added that Maharashtra continues to be a preferred destination for industries due to its competitive power tariffs and reliable infrastructureMaharashtra leads in data centre capacityHighlighting the statersquos dominance in the data centre sector Fadnavis said Maharashtra accounts for nearly 60 per cent of Indiarsquos total data centre capacity and is set to strengthen its position further reported PTIHe noted that the government has already planned for an additional 4500 MW of power capacity over the next five years to support the sectorrsquos expansion ensuring that future demand is adequately met reported PTIPush for renewable energy and storage solutionsOutlining the statersquos green energy roadmap Fadnavis said Maharashtra aims to source 52 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030 increasing to 65 per cent by 2035To maintain grid stability the state is investing in largescale battery storage and pumped storage projects He also suggested battery storage systems as a solution for consumers facing reduced benefits from captive solar generation enabling access to affordable power roundtheclockCompetitive tariffs to boost investmentFadnavis stated that Maharashtrarsquos current industrial electricity tariff stands at Rs 832 per unit which remains competitive compared to other states He expressed confidence that tariffs will decline further over the coming years enhancing the statersquos attractiveness for investment reported PTIHe also noted that earlier calculation errors by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission in estimating power procurement were corrected following intervention by the state government preventing potential financial stress and future tariff hikes reported PTIThe Chief Minister reiterated that Maharashtra will continue to focus on balancing affordability sustainability and reliability in its power sector to support longterm economic growthWith inputs from PTI