Agartala, August 29: Tripura has emerged as one of the top-performing states in the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2024, released by the Union Ministry of Power. The Index, developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in association with the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), assesses the energy efficiency performance of 36 Indian States and Union Territories for FY 2023-24.
The states have been classified into four performance categories – Front Runners (>60% of the total evaluation score), Achievers (50–60%), Contenders (30–50%), and Aspirants (<30%), with additional grouping based on Total Final Energy Consumption (TFEC). According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the best performers in each group include Maharashtra (Group 1: >15 MToE), Andhra Pradesh (Group 2: 5–15 MToE), Assam (Group 3: 1–5 MToE), and Tripura (Group 4: <1 MToE).
The sixth edition of SEEI introduces an implementation-focused framework with 66 indicators spread across seven critical demand sectors – Buildings, Industry, Municipal Services, Transport, Agriculture, Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOMs), and Cross-Sector initiatives. Compared to SEEI 2023, the number of Front Runner states has dropped from seven to five, with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu retaining this distinction. Assam and Kerala have been placed in the Achiever category, while Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh are ranked as Contenders.
Releasing the Index, Akash Tripathi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power and Director General, BEE, emphasised that India’s energy transition is both a climate imperative and a strategic opportunity. He said, “As we chart our path toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and reducing emissions intensity by 45% by 2030, energy efficiency emerges as a foundational pillar, offering impactful, low-cost solutions across all sectors.”
The new framework reflects evolving priorities, such as the Energy Service Companies (ESCO) model, star rating for buildings, MSME cluster profiling, PAT scheme expansion, EV incentives, and demand-side management by DISCOMs. It places strong emphasis on on-ground implementation, measuring state initiatives in areas like energy audits, retrofits, technology demonstrations, and capacity-building programmes.
Sector-wise progress includes the notification of Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) 2017 by 24 states, adoption of MSME energy efficiency policies by 10 states, and preparation of Climate or Heat Action Plans by 25 states. In transport, 31 states have implemented electric mobility policies, while in agriculture, 13 states are promoting solar-powered cold storage and pumps. Importantly, all 36 States and UTs have prepared State Energy Efficiency Action Plans (SEEAPs), with 31 forming State-Level Steering Committees under their Chief Secretaries.
The SEEI 2024 remains a vital policy instrument, driving state-level accountability, fostering innovation, and strengthening India’s commitment to sustainable and efficient energy use.