For the government, which is trying to step up power generation, the task of matching demand and supply seems herculean as there was a deficit of 11.3 per cent in December.

The data released by apex power body Central Electricity Authority indicates that against the requirement of 64,195 million units, electricity supply of 56,910 MU was available, registering a deficit of 7,285 MU.

The worst sufferer during the month was the western region, which recorded a deficit of 17.5 per cent, followed by the Northern region 10.5 per cent, North-Eastern region 10.3 per cent, Southern Region 5.8 per cent and Eastern Region 5.7 per cent, the report said.

Among the various states reeling under power shortage, Bihar topped the chart with 29.1 per cent power deficit, followed by Maharashtra (23.8 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (23.1 per cent).

However, in some union territories like Chandigarh, Dadar Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep, power supply was adequate. Jammu and Kashmir too faced no power shortage, it said.

The power supply position in the National Capital Territory of Delhi was marginally hampered, with a demand-supply mismatch of 0.2 per cent.

According to the CEA data, from April to December 2008, power deficit in the country was 10.9 per cent as 5,15,987 MU were supplied against the requirement of 5,79,081 MU.

Here too, the worst sufferer was the Western region, with 16 per cent deficit, followed by North-Eastern region (14.2 per cent), Northern region (10.4 per cent), Southern region (7.4 per cent) and Eastern region (4.9 per cent).

During the three quarters of this fiscal, the state which bore the brunt of inadequate power supply was Arunachal Pradesh, recording 38.4 per cent deficit.

The other three states that suffered the most are Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, facing power deficit of almost 21 per cent each.

According to the CEA report of various regions, Northern region includes Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Western region includes Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Southern region Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Easter region state are Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal and North-Eastern region includes Arunchal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya.