Energy Conservation Key to Meeting Rising Power Demand: Bhatti

“The unit of electricity we save by avoiding unnecessary consumption is cheaper than the unit of electricity we generate,” he said. He called for energy efficiency to be viewed not merely as an environmental protection measure but as a strategy to enhance economic competitiveness.

The Deputy Chief Minister was the chief guest at the 25th CII Energy Efficiency Summit-2026 held at HICC in Hyderabad on Wednesday and addressed the gathering.

He said energy policy had so far been viewed largely from the supply side. “We have focused on how much power generation capacity we have, how much coal is available, how much renewable energy can be added and how much transmission infrastructure is required,” he said.

However, he pointed out that there is another power plant right before us—one that requires no chimney, coal mine, land or new transmission line. That is energy efficiency, he explained.

Electricity consumption can be reduced through efficient motors, advanced cooling systems, energy-efficient buildings, improved industrial processes and smart energy management systems. If every megawatt of power demand can be permanently reduced, the pressure on the entire power system can be brought down, he said.

Rising Power Demand in Telangana

The Deputy Chief Minister said that as Telangana continues to develop rapidly, the state’s electricity requirements will increase further in the coming years. More investments are needed in industries, manufacturing, data centres, life sciences and electronics, he said.

He said there was a need to improve people’s quality of life while simultaneously accelerating economic growth. Since electricity demand is rising, slowing down development is not the solution, he said, adding that the solution lies in generating greater economic activity from every unit of electricity consumed.

If industries reduce their electricity consumption, their operating costs will also come down, Bhatti said. A reduction in peak power demand in Telangana would ease pressure on the generation and transmission systems. It would also strengthen the country’s energy security while reducing environmental impact and emissions, he explained.

Energy efficiency, he said, not only reduces the operating costs of businesses but also improves resource productivity. Great innovations, he observed, do not always have to originate in laboratories. A technology that succeeds in one industry can be adopted by another.

A solution developed for a problem in the cement industry could be useful in the steel industry, while an energy-efficiency practice implemented in a paper mill could serve as a model for other sectors.

He said the question should not only be, “What is the next new technology?” but also, “What is already working successfully, and how quickly can we scale it up?”

India does not lack successful pilot projects, he said, adding that the real challenge is to take a successful experiment from one factory and replicate it across 100 factories.

AI for Energy Efficiency

The Deputy Chief Minister said next-generation technologies would play a crucial role in improving energy efficiency. He called for wider adoption of modern technologies such as renewable energy, electrification, digitalisation, smart energy management and artificial intelligence.

Sensors can be used to identify where electricity is being wasted, while digital systems can continuously improve industrial processes, he said. Artificial intelligence can identify patterns that may not be detected by human operators, he added.

In the future, factories should not remain merely consumers of electricity but should become active participants in the power system, Bhatti said.

He offered three suggestions to industries on energy efficiency. First, he said systematic changes cannot be made without measuring energy consumption. Therefore, energy efficiency should not be treated merely as an annual audit but should become a process of continuous monitoring.

Second, he called for a system that facilitates the exchange of experiences so that successful energy-saving practices adopted by one industry can be learnt and implemented by hundreds of other organisations.

Third, he urged the government, financial institutions, educational institutions and technology organisations to work together with industries to make commercially viable and beneficial technologies available on a large scale to all enterprises.

He said the desired progress in industrial energy efficiency could be achieved only by moving forward on the basis of these three principles.

Telangana Has World-Class Infrastructure

Bhatti Vikramarka said Telangana offers a favourable environment for investments. He highlighted the state’s world-class international airport, improved road network, Outer Ring Road, reliable power supply, skilled talent, favourable environment and law-and-order situation as its major strengths.

Telangana is a friendly and industry-oriented state, he said. The government considers investors to be “wealth creators,” he added. “We welcome all wealth creators to Telangana to grow together,” Bhatti said.

Telangana Aims for a $3 Trillion Economy by 2047

The Deputy Chief Minister said Telangana has set a target of becoming a $3 trillion economy by 2047. He said the government was working to take forward not only the power sector but also all other sectors in a planned manner. Industrial development, investments, infrastructure and the energy sector need to be advanced in coordination with one another, he said.

Telangana Rising Global Summit in December

Bhatti Vikramarka said that, following last year’s Global Summit, the government was making preparations to organise the ‘Telangana Rising Global Summit’ in December this year.

He invited industry representatives and investors from across the world to attend the summit. “I urge all of you to attend the Global Summit to the extent possible and become partners in our Telangana Rising,” he said.

He said Telangana’s development should be not only rapid but also efficient and smart. The state should make more electricity available to the people and industries while ensuring that greater results are achieved from every unit of electricity, he said.

He called for moving forward with the objective of “generating more, developing more and reducing wastage.” This, he said, is not only sound economic policy but also a practical pathway towards sustainable development.