Complete electrification at 539 local levels

Nepal Electricity Authority has not been able to deliver national transmission electricity to 18 local levels. Although the national transmission grid is not reached, residents of 18 local levels are consuming electricity from small hydropower and solar energy.

According to the 2081 electrification data prepared by the authority after a detailed study of rural municipalities and municipal wards across the country, electricity has reached 99 percent of the total population. Electricity customers including community has reached 59 lakh 35 thousand .

97 percent of the population with access to electricity is from the national grid and 2 percent are consuming electricity from off-grid micro-hydropower, solar energy, etc. .

Out of 753 local levels, 590 local levels have been electrified from 95 to 100 percent. 72-95 percent electrification has been done in 72 local levels. Electrification has been done in 33 percent local levels up to 50-75 percent, 26 local levels up to 25-50 percent and 32 local levels up to 0-25 percent. Executive Director of the Authority Kulman Ghising said that within the current financial year, all Nepalese homes will be electrified. He said that all the preparations have been completed to implement the announcement of Nepal government to provide reliable and quality electricity service.

'In the financial year 2072/73, the electrification status was only 58 percent, now reaching 99 percent is an important achievement achieved during this period,' he said, 'The authority itself is reaching the poor slums looking for houses without electricity, and where electricity is available, it is reliable and of good quality. We are working to improve and expand the electricity supply system and deliver electricity to unreached areas as a high priority." . He also stated that after managing the budget, the construction contractor has been selected and the work has started.

Authority from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and European Investment Bank (EIB) With concessional loans of 220 million US dollars, the work has been started by selecting construction professionals for electrification in the hilly districts of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Province. In addition, the executive director Ghising said that funds have been raised to expand electricity access to other areas by allocating a portion of the profits earned by the government and the authority.

Madhesh has been fully electrified out of 7 provinces. 99.30 percent in Koshi, 99.97 percent in Wagmati, 99.40 percent in Gandaki and 98.49 percent in Lumbini . Karnali province has the lowest ie 74.38 percent electrification. 86.58 percent electrification has been done in Sudurpaschim Province.

Out of 77 districts, Humla has not yet reached the national transmission grid. In Humla, small hydropower, solar energy and other electricity are being supplied. Out of 77 districts, 56 districts have 95 to 100 percent electrification. 10 districts have been electrified up to 75-95 percent, 5 districts up to 50-75 percent and 6 districts up to 25-50 percent.

Manoj Silwal, Deputy Executive Director of the Authority's Distribution and Customer Service Directorate, said that the work is underway to deliver electricity to the partially electrified and yet to be electrified local levels.

Among the 14 districts of Koshi province, except Solukhumbu and Sankhuwasabha, more than 95 percent of the districts have been electrified. Solukhumbu has 89.04 percent and Sankhuvasabha has 93.99 percent electrification. 100 percent electrification has been done in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari and Dhankuta. 8 districts of Madhesh province have been fully electrified.

Among the 13 districts of Wagmati Pradesh, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Ramechhap, Nuwakot and Chitwan have got 100% electrification. More than 95 percent of the remaining districts have been electrified.

Among the 11 districts of Gandaki province, 87.81 percent electrification has been done in Manang. 100 percent electrification has been done in Tanahun, Syangja, Parbat and Kaski, while more than 95 percent has been electrified in the remaining districts.

Among the 12 districts of Lumbini Province, Rukum East has the least electrification ie 32.24 percent and only 85 percent in Rolpa. Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi and Bardia have got 100% electrification. More than 95 percent of remaining districts have been electrified.

Rukum West of Karnali Province has the highest electrification ie 95.08 percent and the lowest ie 31.80 in Mugu . 86.48% in Surkhet, 81.05% in Dailekh, 79.50% in Salyan, 49.80% in Jajarkot, 70.96% in Calikot, 62.47% in Jumla, 42.75% in Dolpa and 32.51% in Humla.

Kanchanpur and Kailali among the 9 districts of Sudurpaschim Province have got 100% electrification. Only 33.51 percent electrification has been done in Bajura. 94.08% in Dadeldhura, 88.04% in Doti, 65.97% in Achham, 61.73% in Baitadi, 69.03% in Bajhang and 84.01% in Darchula.