History of electric power in India (1890 – 1990)

Abstract

This paper gives an overview of the origins and development of hydroelectric and thermal power systems in India. Most of the early power generating stations, which were developed when India was a colony of the British, were hydro-electric in nature. These pre-independence generating stations fed loads in the urban areas and electrification of the villages was done mostly after 1947. The Electricity Supply Act of 1948 saw the emergence of State Electricity Boards (SEBs). The SEBs led to the rise of Regional Electricity Boards and efforts are being made to integrate the various regional grids into a single national grid. The latter half of the century saw inroads being made into other forms of energy, including nuclear and wind. These aspects have also been dealt with in the paper.