539 local levels fully electrified

Out of 753 local levels across Nepal, 539 have been fully electrified, while 196 are partially connected to the national grid. Eighteen local levels remain without access to the grid, but these areas are powered by micro-hydropower projects and solar plants.

According to the Nepal Electricity Authority’s (NEA) 2023/24 electrification data, 99 percent of the population now has access to electricity. This data, collected through a comprehensive study down to the ward level, shows that there are currently 5.9m electricity customers. Of those with electricity access, 97 percent receive power from the national grid, while the remaining three percent rely on alternative sources.

A total of 590 local levels have been electrified between 95 to 100 percent and 72 local levels have seen 75-95 percent electrification while it is 50-75 percent in 33 local levels, 26-50 percent in 26 local levels and up to 25 percent in 32 levels.  

NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising emphasized the authority’s commitment to implementing the government’s goal of providing reliable and high-quality electricity to all citizens within the current fiscal year. He noted that in the fiscal year 2015/16, the electrification rate was just 58 percent, a figure that has now surged to 99 percent, marking significant progress. Ghising stated that NEA is working to identify and connect households in remote areas that still lack electricity. “We are prioritizing providing quality services to areas with existing electricity access and are dedicated to connecting those without NEA services.”

Efforts are also underway to bring electricity to homes in the geographically challenging mountainous and hilly districts of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces within a year. The NEA has already selected contractors and commenced electrification projects in the hilly regions of Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces, funded by a $220m soft loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Ghising also mentioned that the NEA is extending electricity access in other regions through government investments and allocating a portion of the authority’s earnings for this purpose.

Among the seven provinces, Madhes province has 100 percent electrification while Koshi has 99.3 percent, Bagmati 99.97 percent, Gandaki 99.4 percent and Lumbini 98.49 percent electrification. Karnali province has the least electrification at 74.38 percent. Sudurpaschim province has 86.58 percent electrification.

Out of 77 districts, Humla is the only district not connected to the national grid. The district relies on micro-hydropower and solar energy projects for electricity. 

Fifty-six out of the 77 districts have between 95 to 100 percent electrification while it is 75 to 95 percent in 10 districts, from 50 to 75 percent in five districts and between 25 to 50 percent in six districts. 

In Koshi Province, all 14 districts except Solukhumbu and Sankhuwasabha have over 95 percent electrification, with Solukhumbu at 89.04 percent and Sankhuwasabha at 93.99 percent. Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, and Dhankuta districts are fully electrified.

In Madhes Province, all eight districts have been fully electrified. In Bagmati Province, 13 districts, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Ramechhap, Nuwakot, and Chitwan, have 100 percent electrification. The remaining districts have over 95 percent electrification.

In Gandaki Province, Tanahu, Syangja, Parbat, and Kaski districts are fully electrified, while Manang has 87.81 percent electrification, and the remaining districts exceed 95 percent.

In Lumbini Province, the lowest electrification rate is in Rukum East at 32.24 percent, and in Rolpa at 85 percent. Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, and Bardiya are fully electrified, with other districts above 95 percent.

In Karnali Province, Rukum West has the highest electrification at 95.8 percent, while Mugu has the lowest at 31.8 percent. Other districts include Surkhet (86.48 percent), Dailekh (81.05 percent), Salyan (79.5 percent), Jajarkot (49.8 percent), Kalikot (70.96 percent), Jumla (62.47 percent), Dolpa (42.75 percent), and Humla (32.51 percent).

In Sudurpaschim Province, Kanchanpur and Kailali are fully electrified. However, Bajura has only 33.51 percent electrification, while Dadeldhura has 94.08 percent, Doti 88.04 percent, Achham 65.97 percent, Baitadi 61.73 percent, Bajhang 69.03 percent, and Darchula 84.01 percent.