NEA Extends National Power Grid to Remote Hotiya Settlement in Sankhuwasabha

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has expanded the national electricity transmission network to Hotiya in Bhotkhola Rural Municipality-3, in the northern part of Sankhuwasabha district, and begun supplying electricity through the national grid. The area previously relied on a micro-hydropower project for electricity. The extension of the national grid is expected to improve the availability, consistency, and reliability of power supply in the remote settlement. The project was implemented through the Planning and Technical Services Department under the NEA's Directorate of Distribution and Customer Services. The expansion is expected to benefit local residents, government offices, healthcare facilities, grain-grinding mills, and small-scale domestic industries by providing a more dependable electricity supply. According to Rambabu Chaudhary, chief of the Khandbari Distribution Centre, electricity supply has commenced at the Bhotkhola Rural Municipality office and the hospital in Hahiya following the installation of three-phase electricity meters. Chaudhary said the extension of the national grid would help improve the regularity and reliability of electricity services in the area. Meanwhile, the NEA has initiated the process of extending the national transmission network to Kimathanka, a remote settlement in Bhotkhola Rural Municipality bordering China. The authority has already advanced the contracting process for the project and aims to begin supplying electricity to Kimathanka through the national grid within the current fiscal year. The NEA has been prioritizing electricity access in Sankhuwasabha by continuing to expand the national transmission network into remote and geographically challenging settlements. According to the authority, approximately 95 percent of households in the district currently receive electricity through the national grid. The remaining households rely on alternative sources, including micro-hydropower and solar energy. The expansion of the national grid into remote communities is expected to contribute to improved living standards, more effective delivery of healthcare and education services, and the growth of local economic activities. Reliable electricity access is also expected to create better opportunities for small businesses and other income-generating activities in geographically isolated areas.