Union Minister of Power Shri Manohar Lal on Wednesday called for financially strong and operationally efficient distribution companies, stating that a rapidly growing economy will require a power sector far larger and more resilient than what exists today. He said strong and prosperous DISCOMs are essential for delivering improved services and greater responsiveness to consumer needs.
Shri Manohar Lal was delivering the inaugural address at the Electricity Distribution Industry Conference EDICON 2026, being held on January 21 and 22 under the aegis of the Ministry of Power in collaboration with the All India Discoms Association. He said the future expansion of the power sector places significant responsibility on distribution utilities, which must be financially empowered to sustain growth and ensure reliable supply.
The Minister urged State Electricity Regulatory Commissions to move decisively towards cost reflective tariffs, while ensuring that targeted subsidies continue to reach needy consumers in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act. He emphasised that rational tariff structures are critical for improving the financial health of distribution companies and enhancing service delivery.
During the event, Shri Manohar Lal unveiled the first edition of the annual report of the All India Discoms Association titled India Discoms 2025. The report provides an outlook of the distribution sector, highlighting efforts by distribution companies to improve reliability of supply and operational efficiency, the key challenges faced by DISCOMs, and a summary of initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Power and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. These include measures such as the Draft Electricity Amendment Bill and the India Energy Stack. The publication also features thirteen articles by eminent personalities from the power sector and a summary of AIDA’s activities during 2025.
The Minister also presented Gold and Silver awards to 12 distribution companies across six categories. Awarded utilities represented states including Gujarat, Odisha, Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The categories covered improvement in revenue recovery in rural areas, best use of smart meter data, enhancement of consumer satisfaction through digital payments, innovation in renewable energy integration, agricultural feeder solarisation, and effective change management for improved consumer services.
Senior officials and industry leaders present at the conference included Shri Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India; Shri Lokesh Chandra, Chairman and Managing Director, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited and President, All India Discoms Association; Dr Ashish Kumar Goel, Chairperson, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited and General Secretary, All India Discoms Association; and Shri Alok Kumar, Director General, All India Discoms Association, along with other eminent personalities from the power sector.
The conference is expected to serve as a key platform for deliberations on strengthening the distribution segment, improving consumer services and preparing the sector to meet India’s growing electricity demand.
