The Himachal Pradesh government has hiked the power tariff recently. Following the hike, the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission has tried to provide some breather to consumers by directing the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HSEBL) to ensure round-the-clock power supply by arranging surplus power. Industrial sector remains the worst hit with power cuts directly hitting the production.    

Executive Director of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission SK Joshi said that the State faces annual power demand of around 8,600 million units and during peak summer, hydropower generation dips resulting into power shortage of around 1,000 million units.    

In winters, the state relies on banking power from other states but this too does not help much as power cuts are imposed to fill the gap between demand and supply. Average shortage in the region is about 10 per cent. There are unforeseen situations when demand is more than estimate and supply is less than as planned and projected.