Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, has intensified province-level discussions with the objective of making the electricity supply system in Koshi Province more organized, reliable and efficient, while also increasing electricity consumption.
During his visit to Koshi Province, Minister Shrestha held discussions with elected representatives, heads and staff of the Nepal Electricity Authority’s provincial and distribution offices, seeking information on problems in electricity supply, complaints from local residents, issues faced by employees, and opportunities to increase electricity consumption. Alongside identifying problems, he has been interacting with stakeholders to explore practical solutions.
At an interaction program on the current state, achievements and future direction of Koshi Province’s electricity distribution system, Minister Shrestha said Nepal Electricity Authority employees must work even harder than in the past to create an environment in which citizens receive regular, quality and reliable electricity services.
He instructed officials to develop a system that immediately addresses electricity supply problems as soon as they arise and responds promptly to complaints received from consumers. He said that timely dissemination of information and a working approach that resolves complaints without delay would help build public trust and create a more positive perception of the Authority’s service delivery.
Minister Shrestha said that creative plans and proposals put forward by distribution centers based on local needs and problems should be effectively advanced through the provincial office. He emphasized that the quality of services received by citizens, rather than achievements in planning, budgeting and infrastructure construction alone, should be the real basis for evaluating performance.
“No matter how much work we do, ultimately, people will judge us on whether they received regular and reliable electricity.”
Noting that the government has allocated sufficient funds in the current fiscal year to improve the transmission and distribution systems, Minister Shrestha directed officials to move forward with clear plans for budget implementation from the outset. Rather than waiting until the end of the fiscal year to assess progress, he said projects and programs must be accelerated immediately.
Minister Shrestha also said that, alongside expanding electricity generation, increasing domestic electricity consumption should remain a priority. Since Koshi Province is economically important in terms of industrial and commercial activity and has significant potential to increase electricity consumption, he said special programs should be developed to expand the use of electricity in industries, businesses and other sectors.
Highlighting progress made in controlling electricity leakage in Koshi Province as a positive achievement, he suggested increasing cooperation with elected representatives and local governments to resolve problems related to transmission and distribution infrastructure in the coming days.
Minister Shrestha said the government is committed to maintaining high employee morale and creating an environment in which staff can work according to their capabilities and expertise. He said necessary initiatives were being taken to resolve uncertainty concerning contract and daily-wage employees and that an environment would be created to provide opportunities based on employees’ contributions and performance.
Referring to the beginning of a decentralized approach to budget and program implementation within the Nepal Electricity Authority, Minister Shrestha said provincial offices must make maximum use of the authority, responsibilities and resources entrusted to them. He emphasized that since greater authority also brings greater responsibility, officials must work in a way that produces results that citizens can actually feel.
At the interaction, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry Secretary Sarita Dawadi said that targeted improvements in the distribution system could produce significant results in delivering sustainable and quality electricity services. She said the improvements made by Koshi Province in controlling electricity leakage should also be translated into better service delivery.
Similarly, Nepal Electricity Authority Acting Managing Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said that, given the high expectations of citizens, the Authority must further raise the standard of its performance. Although the Authority has been making considerable efforts, he said citizens evaluate service delivery primarily on the basis of power outages and the regularity of supply. Therefore, the Authority must move forward with short-, medium- and long-term plans.
He added that provincial offices must become more responsible and results-oriented now that budgets and authority have been decentralized.
Rajan Dhakal, Deputy Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority and head of its Distribution and Customer Service Directorate, said that alongside expanding distribution infrastructure, the quality of services received by citizens must remain at the center of attention. He noted that although Koshi is a province with high electricity consumption in both the industrial and household sectors, there is still considerable potential to increase electricity use further.
Mentioning challenges in installing poles, placing transformers and expanding other distribution infrastructure, Dhakal said that despite these difficulties, the Authority must ensure a reliable and sustainable electricity supply to citizens.
At the program, Kamal Acharya, head of the Nepal Electricity Authority’s Koshi Provincial Office, said electricity services are being provided to more than 1.137 million customers through 24 distribution branches across all 14 districts of the province. He said the electricity system is being operated through major transmission corridors including the Kabeli Corridor, Koshi Corridor and Duhabi–Pandangjungi–Anarmani Corridor.
According to Acharya, during the last fiscal year, electricity sales in Koshi Province totaled 2,048.41 gigawatt-hours, generating revenue of Rs. 19.21 billion. He also reported that electricity leakage in the province had fallen to 11.21 percent.
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