NEW DELHI: The Kejriwal government has asked the Centre for a coal block that will help a private company set up a giant plant to supply adequate and affordable electricity to the city, Delhi's Power Minister Satyendra Jain told ET, barely a day after the prime minister made a jibe at promises of free power by politicians.Jain said the state administration had major plans to reform the sector and expand power generation from both renewable and conventional sources."We have requested the GoI (government of India) to give a coal block to us, wherever it may be available. We will soon send a formal request to them about this. Our plan is to have 4,000 mw power of our own over the next four-five years," he said.Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party swept to power this month, winning popular support with promises, including cheaper electricity.People in Delhi have complained about rising power bills although distribution companies say that about 80% of the tariff they collect goes to meet the cost of electricity.Delhi draws part of its power supply from obsolete, inefficient plants which are costly. It also depends on some gas-based plants, which do not have enough fuel. Distribution companies say Delhi depends heavily on high-cost supply.AAP is also in favour of an audit of these companies' accounts to make sure that unjustified costs are not factored in by the regulator in determining tariffs. The distribution companies had initially challenged the audit in court but now say they are cooperating.Jain said the newly sworn-in administration is working on an ambitious idea of having its own captive coal block which would fuel an "ultra mega power plant" by a private firm which could supply power to Delhi."We will organise competitive bidding and let the private producer manufacture coal-based power in the vicinity of the block itself, instead of transporting coal all the way to Delhi and producing power here, as it would only add to costs. The power manufactured can be brought to Delhi through the grids. We will have a power purchase agreement with the producer and keep paying him for the power we consume, instead of spending on construction and upkeep of a power plant itself," said Jain.In his speech on Sunday at ‘Re-Invest,' a high-profile meeting of global investors, Modi questioned promises of "free power" by parties during election campaigns. "Water accounts for a major part of a farmer's input costs. The main component of water cost is electricity, which is not supplied (by state governments). Why then do parties still promise free power before every election? And who makes these promises? Those (states) who do not have electricity.Wouldn't there be a bill (for consumers) if state pays its bill (to buy power)?" he had asked. AAP had promised to halve power tariffs. Jain said this talk of "free power" was never the party's policy position at all."We have never promised free power. But we are committed to providing power at affordable prices," the minister said. On his mind is the example of Reliance Energy's UMPP in Sasan, Madhya Pradesh, which has been set up after competitive bidding and a power purchase agreement for 25 years has been signed."The per-unit rate of power is Rs 1.19 and today's rate is 70 paise. So considering that this tendering had been done 5-6 years ago, we will do a new tender and it will have new predetermined per-unit price around Rs 2, including transmission costs. Our promises in the party manifesto have been made after doing adequate homework," he said.Jain said the government's plan is based on future power demand in Delhi, which will reach 10,000 mw in four-five years. But the AAP government is not just looking at coal having a substantial base of production from renewable sources is also on the radar.In the national capital region, it is mostly solar and biomass-based power production that is available in the renewable space. To tap these as much as possible, the government will encourage "rooftop solar power" in commercial and residential establishments.