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Bihar has witnessed a significant surge in energy demand and consumption over the past two decades. Starting from a consumption of 700 megawatts in 2005, the state has experienced a more than 12-fold increase, reaching 8,428 megawatts by June 2025. Data from the Bihar Energy Department highlights this continuous rise in energy demand.
Under the Chief Minister’s Electricity Connection Assurance Scheme, electricity connections were provided to all households in the state five months ahead of schedule, by October 2018. This scheme was later renamed ‘Saubhagya’.
Furthermore, per capita energy consumption has increased approximately fivefold during the last 20 years. In 2012, per capita energy consumption was 134 kilowatt-hours, rising to 160 kilowatt-hours in 2014. The number of electricity consumers has also seen a substantial increase, growing by about 12.5 times. In 2005, the state had 1.7 million electricity consumers, which has increased to 21.4 million in 2025.
Currently, the state experiences an average of 22-24 hours of electricity supply in both urban and rural areas. Urban areas receive an average of 23-24 hours of power, while rural areas receive an average of 22-23 hours. In stark contrast, in 2005, urban areas had an average of 10-12 hours of power, and rural areas had only 5-6 hours. By 2012, power availability increased to 14-16 hours in urban areas and 8-10 hours in rural areas. In 2014, urban areas saw an average of 20-21 hours of electricity, and rural areas received 14-16 hours. The number of electrified villages in the state has increased from 14,020 in 2005 to 39,073. Similarly, the number of electrified hamlets in 2025 reached 106,249.
