APSPDCL Asked to Complete 2 Lakh Rooftop Solar Connections by May
Vijayanand said awareness programmes under the PM Surya Ghar scheme should be strengthened to encourage wider participation
TIRUPATI: Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand on Wednesday directed Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) to complete two lakh rooftop solar connections by May 2026, with 1.5 lakh connections to be achieved by March 2026, under the PM Surya Ghar – Muft Bijli Yojana.
Reviewing the progress of the scheme at a meeting held in Tirupati, Vijayanand said the targets must be met strictly within the prescribed timelines, without scope for delay. He asked SPDCL officials to ensure that the implementation of rooftop solar projects is carried out efficiently at the field level, with close monitoring to maintain quality standards and system performance.
The meeting was attended by APSPDCL chairman and managing director L. Siva Sankar, managing director of new and renewable energy development corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) M. Kamalakar Babu, APSPDCL director Ayub Khan, and district collectors of Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Annamayya, Kadapa, Sri Sathya Sai, Nandyal and Kurnool, along with superintending engineers from various APSPDCL circles.
The Chief Secretary underlined the need to simplify procedures and speed up approvals and commissioning so that consumers do not face delays after opting for rooftop solar systems. He said particular attention should be paid to meter installations, directing officials to complete metering immediately after commissioning without causing inconvenience to households.
Warning of strict action in case of lapses, Vijayanand said accountability would be fixed on field-level officers, including divisional engineers and assistant divisional engineers, for any deficiencies or consumer complaints within their jurisdictions. He further reviewed the status of feeder solarisation works, land acquisition, civil and electrical infrastructure, rooftop solar installations for SC and ST beneficiaries, loss reduction measures and advanced metering. Officials were instructed to expedite pending land handovers, complete lease registrations at the earliest and adhere to approved project schedules.
Vijayanand said awareness programmes under the PM Surya Ghar scheme should be strengthened to encourage wider participation. He added that the progress of rooftop solar and renewable energy projects would be reviewed again at the forthcoming collectors’ conference expected to be held in February. Senior officials from the energy department, APSPDCL, NREDCAP and the district administration were present at the meeting.
