Shillong: Meghalaya's industrial sector has emerged as a frontrunner in electricity consumption, accounting for a staggering 57% of the state's total electricity consumption in 2022-23.

This figure surpasses the national average of 41% and positions Meghalaya as the leading state in the Northeast, alongside Goa which reported an identical 57% industrial share.

Nationally, Meghalaya ranks fifth in industrial electricity consumption, trailing behind Odisha (85%), Jharkhand (70%), Gujarat (67%), and Chhattisgarh (64%).

In contrast, neighbouring Assam reported a significantly lower industrial electricity consumption of 28% during the same period.

Meghalaya's industrial electricity consumption has experienced fluctuations over the years.

According to data compiled by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), industrial consumption peaked at 524 GWh in March 2017 but adjusted to 376.61 GWh by March 2023. The number of industrial electricity consumers in Meghalaya has also declined from 941 in 2009 to 617 in 2022.

On a national level, India's electricity generation grew by 5.8% in 2024, reaching 1,824.13 billion kWh. While coal remains the dominant source of power generation, its share decreased to 74.4% in 2024. Renewable energy sources, on the other hand, rose to a record 12.1% of the country's power generation mix.