MUMBAI: Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India, has been awarded the second prize in the State Energy Efficiency Performance Award (Group 4) at the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2023. The award ceremony, held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, was graced by the presence of the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. The NECA, an annual event observed on National Energy Conservation Day, recognizes commendable efforts in energy conservation across various sectors of the economy.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, organizes the National Energy Conservation Day and Awards. The BEE is delegated to regulate and promote energy efficiency and its conservation in India as per the Energy Conservation Act 2001. The Government of India gives these awards every year on 14th December to various sectors of the economy, recognizing their exemplary efforts on energy conservation in the country.
Meghalaya’s exceptional performance in the State Energy Efficiency Index earned it recognition. The state’s steadfast dedication to energy conservation and efficiency underscores its noteworthy achievement. Shri Abu Taher Mondal, Hon’ble Minister of the Department of Power, Government of Meghalaya, expressed his jubilation, stating that the award reflects their commitment to sustainable practices and energy conservation, motivating them to persist in their endeavors towards a greener and more energy-efficient future.
Meghalaya is heavily dependent on hydropower for its power procurement and has been generating green power. To harness solar power, Meghalaya has planned solar parks at two locations with a capacity of 20 MW each. The distribution losses in MePDCL have been reduced gradually in recent years. Compared to the distribution losses of 25% in the financial year 2021-2022, the distribution loss in the financial year 2022-2023 was 16%. Several measures have been taken to improve billing efficiency, and the draft Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) is under consideration for implementation. A Demand Side Management Cell has also been established in MePDCL under the assistance of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, New Delhi, to formulate a suitable business model to adopt DSM activities. The Publicity and Awareness activities are being carried out by the SDA regularly.
The Meghalaya Energy Conservation Regulation-2017 has been notified by the Government to promote the use of BEE Star level appliances in public procurement and ban the use of incandescent lamps and inefficient magnetic-wire chocks of Tube lights. The Meghalaya Electric Vehicle Policy 2021, launched recently by the Government of Meghalaya, aims to have 15% of the state’s vehicles be electric by 2025. The policy offers purchase incentives for early adoption of EVs based on the energy capacity of the battery.
In conclusion, Meghalaya’s recognition at the NECA 2023 is a testament to its unwavering commitment to fostering a sustainable and resilient power infrastructure. The objective is not only to meet the energy requirements of the community but also to establish a foundation for enhanced service reliability and overall progress in the region.
