SATV, Kathmandu, Oct. 26: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) exported electricity worth nearly Rs. 6 billion to India in Ashoj (September 17 to October 17) of the current fiscal year 2026/27.

Although floods disrupted exports by forcing some hydropower plants to suspend generation, revenue from electricity exports in Ashoj increased compared to the same month last year and the previous month, Bhadau.

According to the NEA, a total of 633.98 million units of electricity was exported to India in Ashoj, generating revenue of Rs. 5.93 billion.

Electricity was exported to India through two channels during the month. Under bilateral electricity sales agreements, power was sold to the Indian states of Haryana and Bihar, while the remaining electricity was sold at competitive rates in the day-ahead and real-time markets of the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX).

The NEA exports surplus electricity generated during the monsoon season to India and Bangladesh after meeting domestic demand. Under bilateral medium-term electricity sales agreements, power is sold to Haryana and Bihar from June to October each year.

In Ashoj last year, electricity exports to India had generated revenue of Rs. 4.96 billion.

The export revenue in Ashoj this year increased by Rs. 962 million compared to the same month last year and by Rs. 832 million compared to Bhadau.

During the first three months of the current fiscal year, beginning July 17, 2026, electricity exports generated total revenue of Rs. 16.15 billion.

The NEA exported electricity worth Rs. 5.08 billion in Saun (July 17 to August 16) and Rs. 5.09 billion in Bhadau (August 17 to September 16).

Managing Director of NEA Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said that revenue from electricity exports increased in Ashoj despite the suspension of generation at some hydropower plants approved for export due to floods.

More than 400 MW of generation capacity in the Trishuli corridor alone has been temporarily disconnected from the national grid due to the Bhotekoshi flood.

According to Shrestha, approximately two-thirds of the total electricity exported to India in Ashoj was sold under bilateral agreements, while the remainder was sold through the IEX.

Export of 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh resumes

Meanwhile, the export of 40 MW of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh through India's transmission infrastructure resumed on Friday evening, October 23.

Exports had been suspended after flooding in the Trishuli River, triggered by a glacial flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa on August 26, that damaged the Trishuli and Chilime hydropower plants, which had been approved for electricity exports to Bangladesh.

Flood damage to hydropower plants supplying electricity under bilateral agreements also partially affected exports to India's Haryana state.

MD Shrestha said that electricity exports to Bangladesh resumed after India's Central Electricity Authority approved the export of electricity generated by other hydropower plants.

He said that the ability to continue electricity exports from other projects—despite the damage caused by floods to the generation and transmission infrastructure of affected hydropower projects—and the resumption of exports to Bangladesh represent a significant achievement for Nepal’s electricity trade.

He added that the resumption was expected to help manage surplus electricity generated during the monsoon season and expand regional electricity trade.

Under the new arrangement, electricity generated by the Solu, Kabeli-1 and Lower Modi hydropower plants has been approved for export to Bangladesh and Haryana, replacing supplies from the Trishuli, Devighat and Chilime hydropower plants.

The NEA and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) signed a five-year agreement on seasonal electricity exports on October 3, 2024. Under the agreement, Nepal exports 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh daily during the six-month period from June 15 to November 15 each year.

Approved electricity export capacity reaches 1,179 MW

Meanwhile, the country has received approval from India's Central Electricity Authority to export an additional 31 MW of electricity.

With the latest approval, the total approved electricity export capacity to India has reached approximately 1,179 MW, according to the NEA.