AP Gears Up to Meet Increased Power Demand

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government is making efforts to ensure an uninterrupted supply of quality power across the state, especially in light of the highest-ever peak power consumption of 256.8 million units recorded on March 26 and the steep rise in demand during the summer.

AP chief secretary and special chief secretary of energy and CMD of AP Transco, K. Vijayanad, taking part in a programme held to mark birth anniversary of Dr B.R Ambedkar, said that the power utilities in the state were focusing more on delivering uninterrupted power supply throughout the state covering even the remote rural areas and those which must get power supply 24x7 and also the urban areas.

He said that the government was committed to provide a cost-effective power supply to domestic consumers, industrial sectors and also to the farming community, which was being provided nine hours of free power supply during the day for agricultural purpose.

As per data from AP State Load Dispatch Centre, AP recorded the highest peak in power consumption on March 28 at 256.8 million units, and the energy demand from January to March 2025 totalled 20,498 million units, by marking an increase from the 20,475 million units in the corresponding period of last year. Referring to energy demand from April 1 to 12, 2,801 million units and, accordingly, the daily power consumption is expected to reach 260 million units in the coming months.

The CS said that the state government was providing extensive power tariff subsidies to support various consumer categories. Referring to Uchita Vyavasaya Vidyut Pathakam, nine nine-hour power supply was being provided to the agriculture consumers, and to ensure 24x7 affordable power, the state was bearing the additional ARR (Average Revenue Realised) gap as a domestic subsidy. Aquaculture farmers with farms up to 10 acres were getting power at a subsidised rate of Rs 1.50 per unit, while 2.35 per unit borne by the government and similarly, SC/ST households were getting free power up to 200 units per month, along with free rooftop solar systems up to 2 KW. Additional concessions include free power to horticulture nurseries, dhobi ghats, BP Rajaka laundries, gold ship shops and so on.