Over the past two decades, Bihar has experienced an enormous rise in energy demand and consumption. In 2005, the state’s electricity consumption was 700 megawatts, but it has increased more than 12-fold, reaching 8,428 megawatts by June 2025. The Bihar Energy Department’s data shows a constant upward trend in energy needs.
The Chief Minister’s Electricity Connection Assurance Scheme saw all households connected to electricity by October 2018, five months ahead of the initial schedule. The initiative was later renamed ‘Saubhagya’.
In the last 20 years, per capita energy consumption has increased nearly five times. Per capita consumption in 2012 was 134 kilowatt-hours, which increased to 160 kilowatt-hours by 2014. The number of electricity consumers has also significantly expanded, multiplying by approximately 12.5 times. In 2005, Bihar had 1.7 million electricity consumers, which has grown to 21.4 million in 2025.
Currently, almost all cities and villages in Bihar enjoy 22-24 hours of electricity per day. Urban areas get power for around 23-24 hours, whereas rural areas get it for 22-23 hours on average. Contrast this with 2005, when urban regions had electricity for 10-12 hours and rural regions for 5-6 hours. By 2012, urban areas saw power availability rise to 14-16 hours, with rural areas seeing 8-10 hours. In 2014, urban areas experienced 20-21 hours of power, while rural areas had 14-16 hours. Furthermore, the number of electrified villages in the state rose from 14,020 in 2005 to 39,073. Likewise, the number of electrified hamlets in 2025 reached 106,249.
