By IANS
Shimla : Power surplus Himachal Pradesh is to sell 700 million units of electricity to deficit states of Delhi and Punjab this summer for Rs.2 billion.
North Delhi Power Corporation (NDPL) has bagged the deal to supply this power at Rs.7.30 per unit to the power hungry national capital and Punjab, government officials said here Monday.
The bulk of this power will go to Delhi while the rest to neighbouring Punjab.
Last year Himachal supplied 500 million units to these two states at the rate of Rs.5.77 per unit through the Power Trading Corporation of India.
As the average selling rate is Rs.3.68 per unit, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) is making a profit of Rs.3.62 per unit.
The promised 700 million units will be sold from May to September when the power shortage shoots in hot Delhi and Punjab.
Since the state government invited tenders from power agencies during last couple of years to sell the power to other north Indian states, the price of electricity has risen considerably.
Until 2005 the state sold power at less than Rs.3 per unit to Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.
The hill state's hydel power generation rises sharply in summer due to the melting of snows and raising of the water levels of the Himalayan rivers.
The state electrified every household way back in 1989.