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Sarita Dawadi, Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and a member of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Board of Directors, has said that the Authority’s achievements should not be measured solely by its expansion of electricity generation and distribution capacity. She said the NEA should now focus primarily on providing quality, reliable and safe electricity services, developing infrastructure within set timelines, increasing domestic electricity consumption, and expanding cross-border electricity trade.

Speaking at a program organized on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the Nepal Electricity Authority, Dawadi said the transformation from the electricity shortages and prolonged load-shedding of four decades ago to the current phase of expanded generation, strengthened power systems and cross-border electricity trade represents a major transformation.

She said this change did not happen on its own, noting that it was made possible by the hard work of thousands of NEA employees, engineers and managers, along with policy guidance from the government, investment from the private sector and support from development partners.

‘The NEA Is an Institution Connected to the Life of Every Nepali’

Dawadi described the Nepal Electricity Authority not merely as an institution responsible for generating and distributing electricity, but as a sensitive public service provider directly connected to the lives of every Nepali.

She said everyone who needs electricity—from ordinary households in remote areas to small and medium-sized businesses, large industries and government offices—has a direct point of contact with the NEA.

Therefore, she said the NEA’s success should no longer be measured only by how much electricity it generates or distributes.

She said it is equally important to consider how reliable and safe the service received by consumers is, how easy the electricity connection process has become, how quickly technical problems and complaints are addressed, and the overall quality of electricity supply.

Transmission and Distribution Expansion Must Keep Pace With Generation

Noting that Nepal’s electricity generation capacity is continuously increasing and that solar power is also being added to the national grid alongside hydropower, Dawadi said transmission lines, substations and distribution systems must also be expanded at the same pace to deliver generated electricity to consumers and markets.

She said the situation in which power generation projects are completed but electricity is wasted due to a lack of transmission lines must end. She emphasized the need to move forward by maintaining a balance among generation, transmission, distribution and electricity demand.

Expanding Electricity Use to Increase Domestic Consumption

Dawadi said increasing domestic consumption of generated electricity should be a major strategy in the coming days. She said electricity use should be expanded in industries, agriculture and irrigation, electric transportation, and households through appliances such as induction cookers.

She said increasing electricity consumption could help reduce the country’s trade deficit and contribute to economic transformation.

Opportunity to Expand Electricity Trade With India and Bangladesh

Dawadi said Nepal’s electricity sector is no longer confined within national borders. Noting that electricity trade with India is continuously expanding and that a new chapter in electricity trade with Bangladesh has already begun, she said a historic opportunity has emerged to connect Nepal’s hydropower with the South Asian clean energy market.

For this, she said cross-border transmission infrastructure, power system reliability, trading capacity and regulatory coordination need to be further strengthened.

‘The NEA’s Structure Must Also Change With the Times’

Dawadi said that as the energy sector continues to grow, private and foreign investment expands, and technology advances rapidly, the NEA’s structure and working methods also need to be reformed in line with changing times.

She said that while preserving past achievements, the NEA must be developed into a more “managerial, specialized, transparent and performance-based institution” capable of addressing the complex challenges of an increasingly competitive electricity market in the future.

Call for No Compromise on Good Governance and Institutional Discipline

Dawadi urged NEA employees to prioritize good governance and institutional discipline in their work. She called for no compromise in providing citizens with fast, efficient and quality services and in addressing consumer complaints as quickly as possible. She also said the NEA’s priorities for the coming days are clear.

According to her, the Authority should move forward by prioritizing quality services, time-bound infrastructure development, system reliability, increased domestic electricity consumption, expanded electricity trade with neighboring countries, good governance, transparency, financial sustainability, and the development of a technology-friendly and skilled workforce.

Dawadi expressed her respect for the former and current leadership, Board of Directors, engineers, technicians and employees who have contributed to the NEA’s four-decade journey, and said its future journey should be made more professional and accountable to the public.

Jalasarokar