CM Directs Officials To Prepare Comprehensive Plans To Increase Power Generation Capacity
The Chief Minister said industrialisation in the State was gathering pace and electricity consumption was expected to double every six years. Accordingly, plans should be prepared to enhance generation capacity. He also called for further measures to reduce power distribution losses
Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to prepare comprehensive plans to increase power generation capacity in line with the growing electricity demand in the State and ensure the availability of power at lower cost.
Reviewing on the functioning of Energy Department at the Secretariat today, the Chief Minister directed officials to study the feasibility and potential for establishing Pumped Storage Energy Projects at 130 reservoirs. He made the suggestion while discussing a proposal to establish a pumped storage project at Polavaram. He also called for a detailed study of the economic feasibility of such projects.Referring to the possibility of difficulties in power generation from various reservoirs and projects due to deficient rainfall this year, the Chief Minister directed officials to take advance measures to ensure uninterrupted power generation.
The Chief Minister said industrialisation in the State was gathering pace and electricity consumption was expected to double every six years. Accordingly, plans should be prepared to enhance generation capacity. He also called for further measures to reduce power distribution losses.
The Chief Minister directed officials to maximise solar power generation. He asked them to take steps to install six lakh solar connections under PM Surya Ghar by September. Another three lakh connections under the non-Surya Ghar category should be installed at the earliest, he said. He also directed officials to apply to the Centre for another 10 lakh connections.
While completing the target under the PM-KUSUM scheme, the State should also seek an additional 2,000 MW capacity from the Centre, the Chief Minister said.He called for integrating solar, wind and pumped storage resources to create a system capable of supplying reliable power at lower cost.
The Chief Minister directed officials to take measures to bring down the average power purchase cost to Rs 4.60 per unit this year and to Rs 4 per unit by 2029.
The Chief Minister suggested introducing a performance-based rating system for the six power utilities in the State. He directed officials to set clear targets for each utility and develop the power companies to compete effectively with leading corporate organisations.Officials informed the Chief Minister that optimisation of power purchases had resulted in savings of Rs 234 crore, while another Rs 100 crore had been saved through prompt payment rebates.Responding to this, the Chief Minister directed officials to take continuous measures to reduce the debt burden on power utilities. He called for regular consultations to secure lower interest rates on the utilities’ loans and directed officials to highlight the improving performance of the utilities to financial institutions.He said power utilities should henceforth borrow only for asset creation and capital investments and should avoid taking loans for other requirements.The financial position of the utilities should be strengthened without increasing tariffs by reducing power procurement costs, interest burden and distribution losses, the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister appreciated the officials for implementing Digital Twin and Asset Health Index systems in the power utilities. He directed them to digitally monitor the condition of assets in the power system and proactively assess the health of transformers and other equipment so that repairs or replacements could be undertaken in advance. Such measures would reduce costs and ensure the supply of quality power to consumers, he said.
Minister Gottipati Ravikumar and senior officials participated in the meeting.
