Andaman and Nicobar Electricity Department

Andaman and Nicobar Electricity Department
Agency name	Andaman and Nicobar Electricity Department
Jurisdiction	Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Headquarters	Port Blair
Parent agency	Ministry of Power (India)

Contents

Andaman and Nicobar Electricity Department is the power utility responsible for electricity supply across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, headquartered in Port Blair. It operates within the administrative framework of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and interacts with central entities such as the Ministry of Power (India), Power Grid Corporation of India and Central Electricity Authority. The department coordinates with territorial bodies including the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and engages with national programmes like the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana.

History

The department’s antecedents trace to colonial-era utilities serving Port Blair and anchorage points near Ross Island and Havelock Island, with expansion periods linked to post-independence projects funded by Planning Commission (India) and implemented alongside agencies such as the Central Electricity Authority and Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. Major milestones include electrification drives tied to national initiatives like Rajiv Gandhi’s rural development schemes and later integration with programmes led by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of Rural Development (India). The department’s evolution reflects intersections with events including the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami recovery efforts and infrastructure rebuilding coordinated with the National Disaster Management Authority and Navy (India) logistics.

The department reports administratively to the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands through the Department of Power (Andaman and Nicobar Administration), and functionally liaises with entities such as the Ministry of Power (India), Central Electricity Authority, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, and the Local Self Government (Municipal Corporation of Port Blair). Its internal divisions mirror structures in utilities like Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited-supported plants and incorporate roles akin to state electricity boards such as Kerala State Electricity Board and Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited. The department engages consultants from institutions such as the National Institute of Solar Energy, Central Institute of Road Transport (for logistics), and coordinates with Indian Railways and Coast Guard (India) for island logistics. Policy oversight includes compliance with regulations referenced by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and coordination with the Attorney General of India for contractual matters.

Generation systems include captive thermal units modeled after projects by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and smaller diesel plants analogous to units operated by Reliance Infrastructure and NTPC Limited. The transmission topology is influenced by short, radial networks similar to island systems in Andaman Islands and international comparisons like Seychelles and Maldives. Distribution networks serve population centers such as Port Blair, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), and Car Nicobar, employing technologies comparable to those used by Tata Power and Adani Power for feeder automation and metering. The department procures equipment from suppliers akin to Siemens, ABB, and Schneider Electric, and uses standards developed with reference to the Bureau of Indian Standards and technical guidance from the Central Electricity Authority.

Rural electrification efforts align with national schemes including Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya), and the department implements island-specific microgrid projects comparable to initiatives by Rockefeller Foundation-backed pilots and programs from Agence Française de Développement in small islands. Renewable energy adoption features solar photovoltaic deployments inspired by the National Solar Mission and pilot hybrid systems reminiscent of projects by Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency and Solar Energy Corporation of India. Programs target islands such as North Andaman, Middle Andaman, Little Andaman, and Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar), with community engagement models drawing on experiences from Kudumbashree and Self Help Group-based microenterprises. The department also explores wind and tidal prospects informed by studies from the National Institute of Ocean Technology and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services.

Tariff setting follows frameworks developed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and mirrors practices seen in state commissions such as the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission and Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Consumer services include metering, billing, and grievance redressal guided by standards from the Bureau of Indian Standards and consumer protection norms reinforced through interaction with National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and Central Vigilance Commission for procurement transparency. The department has piloted prepaid and smart metering similar to deployments by BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and Torrent Power, and uses software platforms comparable to systems by Tata Consultancy Services and HCLTech for billing, customer relationship management, and outage management. Safety and standards are enforced referencing manuals from Central Electricity Authority and training collaborations with National Power Training Institute.

Key challenges include logistical constraints characteristic of insular territories like Maldives and Seychelles, fuel supply dependencies reminiscent of remote utilities served by Indian Oil Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and vulnerabilities to extreme events such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and cyclones affecting Bay of Bengal islands. Future plans emphasize decarbonization consistent with national targets promoted by the Ministry of Power (India) and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, expanded microgrid and battery storage deployments inspired by projects from International Renewable Energy Agency and World Bank, and institutional strengthening via partnerships with National Institute of Solar Energy, Energy Efficiency Services Limited, and Power Finance Corporation. Strategic priorities include enhancing resilience through standards akin to those by the National Disaster Management Authority, improving financial sustainability comparable to reforms in Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission and Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, and integrating with regional maritime logistics involving the Indian Navy and Merchant Navy (India).