Vijayawada: Even as the AP government is devising strategies to supply uninterrupted power to its citizens, the gap between demand and supply seems to be widening.
The government has released a white paper on the power sector and proposed round-the-clock power supply for its domestic consumers.
But increasing demand, coupled with gas and coal shortage, pose a challenge.
According to official figures, nearly 6,500 to 7,000 MW of power is needed for seamless power supply in AP. Only 5,300 MW of power is available at present. As against 160 mu of power generation needed, only 120 mu are available from various power generation units in the state and elsewhere in the country.
After the bifurcation, AP was allocated 46.11 percent share amounting to 7,708 MW from the total power generation of 16,717.33 MW from all coal, hydel, gas and wind power generation units in the state.
Read: Electricity Crisis: Power cuts paralyse Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
As per the new plan, the government is required to supply uninterrupted power for nearly 1.51 crore low-tension and high-tension lines, including domestic and non-domestic connections.
Currently, Chittoor, Guntur, Krishna, West Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts, including Tirupati, Vijayawada and Vizag cities, consume more power than other parts of Andhra Pradesh.
Power generation units are operating below capacity due to various reasons. As per records, only 120 to 130 mu are available for the state’s needs.
Hence power companies are forced to impose five hours of power cuts in cities and nine hours in villages across the thirteen districts of Andhra Pradesh.
