CHANDIGARH, 20.03.26-Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT Chandigarh, participated in the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 held on March 20, 2026 at New Delhi, organized by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

While addressing the summit, the Governor highlighted that Chandigarh Administration’s progressive steps towards achieving the Vision 2047 goals, emphasizing reforms in the power sector and adoption of sustainable energy practices.

It was stated that Chandigarh has successfully completed privatization of its power distribution business through a transparent competitive bidding process. This landmark reform aims to enhance operational efficiency, encourage infrastructure investment, improve consumer services, and significantly reduce Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses through professional management and adoption of modern technologies.

Highlighting Chandigarh’s leadership in renewable energy, the Administrator informed that a total of 103.623 MWp grid-tied solar capacity has been installed across 11,633 sites in the city as of March 2026. This includes 67 MWp rooftop solar plants at 6,606 government sites and 36.623 MWp at 5,057 private sites, installed since 2012. These initiatives have collectively generated 319.68 million units (MU) of electricity and resulted in a reduction of approximately 2,20,579 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions, contributing significantly to clean energy goals.

Further, it was shared that the process for implementation of the PM Surya Ghar Yojana is underway in Chandigarh. The Administration has also notified its Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy in September 2022, aligning with the vision of a clean, green, and smart city.

In line with sustainable mobility initiatives 25 buses were recently dedicated to the public by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in February 2026 under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme and 75 buses are expected to be added soon to further strengthen the public transport system.

To support the EV ecosystem, the city has already established 36 public charging stations and 11 battery swapping stations for the convenience of citizens.

The Administrator also highlighted that digitization of the power distribution sector has been initiated in Chandigarh, with several technology-driven measures introduced, including online consumer services and smart meter-based reading and monthly billing systems, implemented from January 2026.

Reaffirming Chandigarh’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, the Hon’ble Governor stated that the Administration will continue to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Power to adopt innovative solutions for the benefit of consumers and contribute towards the nation’s energy goals.