Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has permitted financially distressed power distribution companies (DISCOMs) to collect True-Up charges of ₹ 3,669 crore from consumers for the period 2015–2019.
About one-third of this amount will be paid by state government for supplying subsidised power to eligible farmers, SCs, STs, MBCs, artisans and other consumers.
APERC is holding its state advisory committee meeting on Monday in this regard. The committee will mainly focus on reduction in cost of service, streamlining power purchases, improving performance of DISCOMs, demand-side management and energy conservation, apart from measures to improve energy efficiency measures.
The meeting will be presided over by APERC chairman Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, with members including P. Rajagopal Reddy and Thakur Ram Singh participating in it. Nagarjuna Reddy said APERC will keep consumers' interest in mind while taking every decision. He underlined that all power utilities will have to work in tandem for meeting future challenges and achieving goals.
“Availability of quality and affordable power will enable rapid agricultural and industrial growth, in addition to spurring overall economy of the state. As India’s power sector is undergoing noteworthy changes, the electricity regulatory commission wants power utilities of AP to aim for rapid growth,” the APERC chief stated.
Of the total 1.86 crore consumers, state government will subsidise power supply to around 40 lakh consumers.
