Hyderabad: Post bifurcation, the power sector in Andhra Pradesh is facing a major deficit and it will be a monumental task to bring it back on track.
The region has a huge concentration of gas-based power plants as well as under-construction thermal plants. As per the new road map charted out for Andhra Pradesh, the new state plans to replicate the Gujarat model of power sector development.
The Gujarat model is the most efficient power sector model in the country, which ensures 24x7 power supply to all sections of consumers and eight hours power supply for agriculture. Even round-the-clock domestic power supply to villages is ensured.
Solar and wind power potential is hugely exploited in Gujarat which has led the state from a power deficit situation to a power surplus state, the only one in India to do so.
The Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd was given the status of an Independent Power Producer with approval to undertake new power projects. As part of reforms, it was notified as the State Generating Power Plant by the government of Gujarat in 2004 with an aim to improve efficiency in generation activities.
Also, separate feeders for farm and domestic sectors and metering of all consumers was implemented to reduce transmission losses.
AP, as per its action plan, will emulate the Gujarat model to bring back its ailing power sector on track. “As per our action plan, we want to take up solar and wind power generation in a big way and renew our foc-us on these two sources of energy. About 1,000 MW of solar power will be developed in the next eight to nine months. Also, 3,000 MW of wind power will be developed within the same time frame. We also plan to improve our efficiency and accounting for every single unit of energy through energy audit,” said Ajay Jain, in-charge secretary (power).
Meanwhile, the 800-MW Krishnapatnam unit, which is partially operational, will start generating 500 MW power by the end of July and will touch 800 MW, its full capacity, by the end of October. Another 600 MW will be added by 2015.
Apart from the addition in generation, the state will implement DTR (Distribu-tion Transformer) and Feeder separation to bring down losses, theft and, therefore, help the discoms regain financial health.
