The National Electricity Policy has envisaged a quantum jump in the per capita consumption of electricity for the next five years, but Asom is at the bottom of the list of States. Asom is lagging far behind the national average in so far as the per capita consumption of power is concerned. The per capita consumption of electricity in Asom during 2006-2007 was only 175 kwh against the national average of 671.89 kwh, and almost lowest among the north-eastern States during the period, sources said. "The per capita consumption of power in the north-eastern States is still very low, and distinctive plans have been initiated to improve it during the 11th and the 12th Plan periods,' said Union Power Secretary Anil Razdan during his recent visit to Guwahati. The National Power Policy with the target of "power for all by 2012' has set a target to increase the per capita consumption of electrical energy to over 1,000 kwh by 2011-2012. Accordingly, it has been proposed to add a generation capacity of about 78,500 MW during the 11th Plan and about 82,000 MW in the 12th Plan period. To ensure energy security and low-carbon growth, sources said the Centre has chalked out a long-term plan to tap the available hydro potential, particularly in the north-eastern region and Sikkim. The North-east and Sikkim are endowed with 38 per cent and 15 per cent hydro-electric potential respectively in the country. Apart from exploration of hydro-electric potential, special stress has been laid by the Centre on infrastructure development in the region to remove the present bottlenecks, sources said. According to the 17th Electrical Power Survey (EPS) conducted by the Central Electricity Authority, the energy requirement of the North-east, including Sikim, at the end of 11th and 12th Plan periods is expected to be 13,649 million units (MUs) and 21,530 MUs respectively. Accordingly, the energy requirement in Asom is expected to increase from 4,297 MUs in 2006-2007 to 13,053 MUs at the end of 12th Plan period. The available data of the last fiscal shows that Asom failed to meet its peak demand of 771 MW, with a deficit of power not less than 10.8 per cent. The peak demand in the State is estimated to go high up to 1,443 MW and 2,292 MW during 11th and 12th Plan periods, said the sources. Apart from that, Asom, along with other north-eastern States, faces acute shortage of power in the lean period