Historical Background
The commissioning of the two micro hydel sets having capacities of 100 KW and 56 KW at Leimakhong in 1930 by the then Manipur State HE Board marked the beginning of the use of electricity in Manipur. The Royal palace and main areas of Imphal Town enjoyed Electricity generated from this captive hydel station. During the World War-II, two more DG sets of 62 KW and 46 KW capacities were installed at the old Imphal Power House by the Armed Forces for electrification of Imphal town and its suburbs. The above installed capacity remained the same till the end of the first Five Year plan (1951-56) of the post independence period. The second Five Year Plan (1956-61) however saw a significant change in the demand of power in the state. The demand had been growing rapidly envisaging more social acceptance and the gradual promotion of awareness of the people towards the use of electricity for different purposes. This had necessitated further addition in the generation capacity and it was accomplished with the installation of a few more DG sets of various capacities in and around Imphal.
To evacuate the power generated from the captive micro hydel power station (100 + 56) KW at Leimakhong to specific load centres of Palace Compound and main bazar area of Imphal, the 20 Km. long, 11 KV line between Imphal & Leimakhong was constructed for the first time in Manipur in 1930. The state was then having 26 Kms. of 11 KV lines and 45 Kms. of domestic lines to serve very few consumers in 7 villages/Leikais. Both the line and generating stations were owned by the then Manipur State HE Board, constituted under the ex-officio Chairmanship of the Political Agent. Subsequently Electricity was kept under the administrative control of the Public Works Department, Government of Manipur. It was separated from state PWD and started functioning as an independent Department since February 1970.
The peak load demand of Manipur in 1971 was 3.6 MW only. The demand was met from the State’s own generating stations and power purchased from the neighbouring states/Electricity Board at the low voltage. The per capita consumption of energy was 4.84 KWh. The demand was kept suppressed due to lack of generation till the year 1980. The scenario was abruptly changed after the purchase of bulk power from Assam with the commissioning of 132 KV inter-state transmission line from Imphal to Dimapur and 6.3 MVA, 132/33 KV sub-station at Yurembam in December 1981. The situation was further alleviated with the commissioning of Loktak Hydro Electric Project having a capacity of 3×35 MW on 4th of August 1984.
During the years from 1984 to 1996, a number of Central Sector Power Projects, mostly hydel projects in the North Eastern Region were commissioned. Every project has a share of about 7% for Manipur. The state was having adequate quantity of power during the rainy seasons from these projects. The situation is different during the dry lean season of every year.
Organization
The Electricity Department has been functioning with the Chief Engineer (Power) as Head of the Department. He is the Technical and Administrative Head and is responsible to the Government for planning, budgeting etc. for the Department.
The State Electricity Department has been unbundled and Corporatized into 2 (two) State owned functionally independent successor entities (i) Manipur State Power Company (MSPCL) as the Holding Company (HOLDCO) to discharge the functions of the State Transmission and Generation Utility and the functions of State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) and (ii) Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) as the deemed distribution licensee (Discom) w.e.f. the 1st of February, 2014 (Saturday) by a Notification of the Government vide Manipur State Electricity Reforms Transfer Scheme, 2013 dated the 31st December, 2013.
Two Offices viz i) Office of the Administrative Officer(Power), Electricity Department and ii) Office of the Executive Engineer, Meter Relay & Testing Division are retained. All sanctioned posts and staff in position for 23 nos. of Offices of the DDO/HOO are merged under the Office of the Administrative Officer(Power), Electricity Department and all sanctioned posts and staffs in position for12 nos. of Offices of the DDO/HOO are merged under the Office of the Executive Engineer, Meter Relay & Testing Division. All Personnel of the erstwhile Electricity Department, Manipur are placed under deputation either with MSPCL or MSPDCL except for very few numbers of employees retained with the Office of the Administrative Officer (Power) or with the Office of Executive Engineer (MRT). Offices of Administrative Officer (Power) and Executive Engineer (MRT) are retained so as to act as a link for sanction of GIA to the two Companies and to look into various aspects of employee of the Electricity Department deputed to the Company related matters and creating an interface between the Government and the Company.