Today, in the fast developing modern world, electrical energy has become a necessity of life. In other words, it has become a part and parcel of our life. The increasing used of this form of energy is due to the fact that it can be converted into any form easily and quickly. In nature, energy exists in different forms but electrical energy is the most important form of energy.
Growth and development of electrical power in India may be described step wise as under:
- Electrical power first came to India in 1847 at Darjeeling when India was under the British rule.
- For general public, the electricity was available in Delhi in the year 1905, when a licence for the purpose was issued to M/s John Fleming and Co.
- In 1911, when Delhi was declared as capital of India, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) established a steam power plant at Kingsway (Delhi).
- In 1947, after independence, the responsibility of electrical supply was entrusted to "Central Electrical Power Authority" (CEPA), later on "Delhi State Electricity Board" (DSEB) was constituted in the year 1948.
- On 7th April 1958, "Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking" (DESU) came into existence. Till today this body looks after generation transmission and distribution of power in Delhi. In other parts of the country the power came much after.
Table: Growth of Electrical Power in India
| S.No. | Particulars | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1978 | 1988 | 1994 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Installed generating capacity (M.W.) | 220 | 5650 | 14700 | 16660 | 54190 | 76700 | 89080 |
| 2 | Energy generation (kwh x 10⁶) | 7500 | 20000 | 61000 | 102500 | 202150 | 324150 | 420800 |
| 3 | No. of Electrified villages (×10³) | 4 | 22 | 105 | 232 | 435 | 945 | 502 |
| 4 | Annual per capita consumption (kwh) | 15 | 37 | 90 | 130 | 200 | 300 | 350 |
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