In a development that could lead to decrease in the cost of electricty and decreased burden on consumers, authorities reported that hydel electricity’s share in Pakistan’s energy mix increased over the current fiscal year.

Reports said that a hydel power plants provided a total of over 15 billion units in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24.

The units generated by hydel units were 1.78 billion more than the corresponding period last year.

The increase in hydel generation has saved Rs50 billion for the national exchequer in this fiscal year.

The country’s current hydel generation capacity is 9,500 megawatts and WAPDA is working to increase the capacity of the transmission system.

Meanwhile, the government is also building more hydel projects including Diamer Bhasha, Mohmand and Dasu dams as well as Tarbela’s extension. The completion of all these projects will bring an additional 10,000 MW to the system by 2029.