Panel to Examine 62 Years as Retirement Age in AP Power Utilities
The decision has been taken at an APPCC meeting chaired by Energy department special chief secretary and APPCC chairman K. Vijayanand on Wednesday.
Vijayawada:Andhra Pradesh Power Coordination Committee (APPCC) has decided to constitute a six-member panel to examine the implementation of AP government's decision to enhance the retirement age of employees in the state’s public sector power undertakings from 60 years to 62 years.
The decision has been taken at an APPCC meeting chaired by Energy department special chief secretary and APPCC chairman K. Vijayanand on Wednesday. The committee has been directed to submit its report within 15 days, based on which the state’s power sector will take a final decision on extending the enhanced retirement age to their employees.
Those who attended the meeting included AP Transco joint managing director Suryasai Praveen Chand, Discoms chairmen and managing directors Shivashankar Loteti and Prithvitej Immadi, AP Genco in-charge managing director and APCPDCL CMD P. Pulla Reddy.
The meeting held detailed deliberations on the implications of increasing the retirement age of employees in power utilities from 60 years to 62 years. The panel appointed has been asked to undertake a comprehensive study covering the financial burden the move could impose on power utilities and, in turn, on electricity consumers.
Further, the committee will examine the impact of the proposal on workforce management, service conditions of employees, operational efficiency, and administrative aspects. Special emphasis will be laid on assessing the working conditions and field-level challenges faced by linemen, whose duties involve physically demanding outdoor operations.
Officials said the committee would analyse all relevant operational, financial, and administrative issues before making its recommendations. Based on its findings, the APPCC will decide the future course of action regarding implementation of the enhanced retirement age in the state's power sector undertakings.
The six-member committee comprises Suryasai Praveen Chand, P. Pulla Reddy, Shivashankar Loteti, Prithvitej Immadi, Legal Adviser Siva Rao, and another designated member representing the coordination mechanism.