Bhubaneswar, July 30: The state expects to become power surplus by the 2016-17 financial year.

This was revealed at a meeting of officials chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik to review the performance of the two state-run electricity utilities - Grid Corporation of Odisha (Gridco) and Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL).

Gridco officials said that availability of power was expected to go op with the commissioning of a number of projects.

By 2016-17, the availability of power will reach 32,059 million units a day as against a demand of 29,386 million units a day.

Once the state becomes power surplus, it will start selling power to deficient states.

At present, Odisha sells power to needy states in June and September, when it becomes power surplus because of the rise in the generation of hydroelectric power during the monsoon.

Sources said the chief minister asked the Gridco officials to improve the performance of distribution companies.

Gridco officials said the efficiency of the state-run unit would improve after reduction in transmission and distribution loss and the swapping of high-cost loans with low-cost credit.

Naveen directed OPTCL officials to complete ongoing projects on time.

He also advised the officials to formulate and implement time-bound strategies for completing electrification of all the habitations across the state.