West Bengal is the pioneer in power development in the country. The First Hydel Power Plant was commissioned more than a century ago in 1897 at a tiny village Sidrapong in Darjeeling and the First Thermal Generating Plant at Calcutta in 1899.

With the growth of urbanisation and industry and with the advent of green revolution electricity has come to play a very major role in our lives today. It has, in fact, become an indispensable part of our lives.

WBSEB’s journey spanning over four and half decades has been full of challenges. Sheer determination, hard work and its inherent capability to overcome stiff hurdles in its way have enabled WBSEB to reach its present enviable position.
WBSEB, a major power utility in the state, has completed its 45 years of dedicated services to the people of West Bengal, reaching out to provide power to over 35 lakhs hearths and homes, business, industries, agriculture, public utilities from the mighty Himalayas to the rolling sea, covering 87000 Sq. Km. of the total 89000 Sq. Km. area of the state. It has reached the threshold in fulfilling its main objective to generate more power, arrange its equitable distribution and help generate all-round economic growth of the state.
WBSEB stands committed to building power-full base for Bengal ensuring harmonious and balanced growth of economy, with equal emphasis in serving both urban and rural people and thus achieving twin goals of social upliftment of the people and economic regeneration in West Bengal.

SPECTACULAR TURNAROUND
From the proverbial cut scenario of eighties West Bengal has achieved incredible turnaround with successive commissioning of power projects, substantial increase in installed capacity and availability of power.

NATIONAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN PLANT PERFORMANCE
WBSEB Thermal Plants have received National Meritorious Productivity Awards and Incentive Awards for reduction of Secondary Fuel Oil and Auxilliary Power consumptions for several years from Central Electricity Authority, Govt. of India.

Bandel Thermal Power Station
For the year 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997 and 1998. BTPS was also awarded Siver Cup in 1999 for Ash Utilisation Work.

Santaldih Thermal Power Station
For the year 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997.

Foresight to meet tomorrow's needs
With energy requirement growing daily, a surplus situation could turn to deficit tomorrow. Hence, the need for new power projects.
In thermal sector WBSEB has taken up 150 MW Gouripur Thermal Power Project in joint venture on BOT basis at an estimated cost of Rs 683 crore. All statutory clearances are complete. Land acquisition in progress.

Emphasis on hydel power development
Enhancing much needed hydro-thermal mix

Eastern Region including West Bengal is beset with chronic problem of shortage of peaking power and consequent large frequency excursions during peak and off-peak periods owing to very poor hydro-thermal mix of 03:97 in the state as against ideal ratio of 40:60.
West Bengal is blessed with enormous hydro power potentiality, both conventional and pumped storage version, estimated at 1786 + 4419 MW in Northern Hills and Aloha Hills. WBSEB has embarked upon an ambitious programme of development of hydel power towards enhancing hydro-thermal mix for proper peak load management.
Ongoing Hydel Projects
Expected capacity addition by 2005 : 908.4 MW

• Contemplated to enhance much needed hydro-thermal mix
• Facilitate proper peak load management
• Stabilise grid-system and assure quality of power supply
• By utilising off-peak surplus power of thermal plants
• Target of comissioning :2004-5

• 36 MW Rammam Hydro Project Stage I
• 90 MW Rammam Hydro Project Stage III
• 332 MW Teesta Low Dam Hydro Projects
• 86 MW Raidak Hydro Project
• 38 MW Torsha Hydro Project
• 600 MW Turga Nala Pumped Storage Project
• 1485 MW Kathlajal Pumped Storage Project
• 1224 MW Bandhu Nala Pumped Storage Project
• 1110 MW Kulbera Pumped Storage Project
• 12 MW Balason Hydro Project
• 31 MW from Mini-Micro Hydro Projects

• Augmenting generation capacity at a much shorter time and far lesser cost compared to new stations
• Ensuring efficiency, economy in plant performance and environmental upgradation

Year Generation	in Million Unit	Target fixed Remarks  by CEA	Remarks
1995-96 Sept. to March	62.70	-	only two units were commissioned
1996-97	185.00	160	-
1997-98	178.60	180	-
1998-1999	225.90	190	25% above the target
1999-2000	245.31	190	29% above the target
2000-2001	Expected to cross 250 MU mark

All time consistent record generation

From urban to rural
Heralding rural economic upliftment

WBSEB has contributed significantly to the balanced economic development of West Bengal by ensuring that the rural sector also enjoys the benefits of electricity, which has helped agrarian development a great deal by boosting agricultural production and thus creating conditions for harmonious economic growth of the state.

Though electrification of far flung and far apart rural habitats is a highly non-remunerative proposition WBSEB had launched a massive rural electrification programme since the early 70s by taking loans from the Rural Electrification Corporation of the Govt. of India in fulfilment of its social objectives and the interests of the greater good of the people. WBSEB has already electrified 29574 (77%) mouzas, 1,09,291 irrigation pump-sets and 1,19,572 hamlets of the weaker sections of the society under the Lokdeep Kutir-jyoti scheme free of cost.

With power regulated irrigation at their command cultivators are reaping multi-crop harvests in a year besides a variety of cash crops, thus ensuring their overall economic upliftment. The urban population too is enjoying the benefit of food grains in plenty at comparatively cheaper costs.

Though WBSEB is firmly committed to such social causes its paucity of resources have of-late stood in the way of continuing rural electrification works at the desired level.

In realistic appreciation of this compelling situation and with pragmatic apporach on state power sector re-organisation, the Govt. of West Bengal has constituted the West Bengal Rural Energy Development Corporation for focus attention on 100% rural electrification within shortest possible time and managing the entire business of supply of electricity of the low and medium voltage consumers in the rural areas of the state. WBSEB as a mother organisation has pledged itself to nurture this newly constituted body and is extending full technical co-operation, managerial and material support to fulfil its objectives.

Building power -full base for propagation of information technology
Satellite communication (Sat-com) and computerisation project
WBSEB’s Rs 52.40 crore project for building of state-of-the-art V-SAT based Communication System and Computer Networking for development if Hi-tech Management Information System is fast taking shape covering the entire State.

Benefits manifold

Many more Incentives to develop new industries R&D for futuristic programme
The CERD Wing of WBSEB has made considerable stride in ModernTechnology Absorption in various Management Systems for improving overall operational efficiency and financial health :