Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa is on track to face a widening electricity deficit, with regulators warning that the state’s demand–supply gap could swell nearly fourfold to 192.58 MW by 2029–30, up from the present shortfall of about 48 MW.
The projection comes from the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), which has cleared the state power department’s five-year business roadmap while cautioning that urgent steps are required to prevent blackouts and voltage fluctuations in the coming years.
According to the Commission, electricity consumption in Goa is expected to surge at a rate of around 5% annually, driven by urban growth, industrial expansion, and rising household use. The total energy requirement is forecast to climb from 6,442 million units in 2025–26 to nearly 9,583 million units by the end of the decade.
To plug the looming gap, JERC has asked the Electricity Department to procure power on a priority basis—whether through spot markets, bilateral contracts, or other mechanisms—so that consumers receive uninterrupted supply. The regulator has also directed that every capital investment proposed under the business plan be vetted separately, with detailed cost–benefit justifications.
Currently, Goa services about 7.6 lakh electricity consumers, a figure expected to cross 9.3 lakh by 2030. At the same time, transmission and distribution (T&D) losses, though projected to decline slightly from 7.95% to 7.7%, remain a key area for improvement. The Commission has insisted on 100% collection efficiency to ensure financial stability for the sector.
The warning signals underline a critical challenge for Goa: without swift intervention, the state could face mounting power shortages just as its demand curve steepens, leaving consumers vulnerable to higher costs and reliability concerns.
