The article presents the results of the research and analysis of the efficiency of power consumption at tunnelling sections in coal mines. The authors established distribution laws for the shift averages of technological and specific consumption of power. Further, they recommended the criteria and principles for the assessment of the power conservation level, efficiency of mine tunneling and works execution arrangement in terms of power sustainable use by shift teams. The recommendations are provided on defining sustainable levels of the shift average power consumption and rationalizing manufacturing standard indices.