No Power Tariff Hike During NDA Govt’s Term, Says Energy Minister
He said the recently implemented 13-paise true-down adjustment had been carried out without imposing any extra burden on electricity consumers.
Vijayawada:Energy minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar has said there would be no power tariff hike during the remaining three years of the coalition government’s tenure, stating that electricity tariffs had not been increased in the two years since the NDA-led government assumed office under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Marking the completion of two years of the coalition government on Friday, the minister said the administration had focused on restoring the financial health of the power sector while protecting consumers from additional charges.
He said the recently implemented 13-paise true-down adjustment had been carried out without imposing any extra burden on electricity consumers.
Ravi Kumar alleged that the previous YSRC government had left the power sector financially and operationally weakened. He claimed that the present government had stabilised the sector through a series of administrative and financial reforms over the past two years.
Highlighting the government's energy strategy, the minister said Andhra Pradesh had reduced its dependence on power purchases from other states by strengthening in-state generation capacity.
He said the government was pursuing a long-term plan to develop 160 GW of renewable energy capacity to meet future power requirements and promote sustainable growth.
The minister also highlighted the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar scheme and said the government aimed to provide six lakh rooftop solar connections free of cost to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe households, while extending subsidy support to other eligible beneficiaries.
Ravi Kumar said infrastructure works were being taken up under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) to strengthen rural power distribution networks. New substations and transmission lines were being established to reduce transmission losses and improve the reliability and quality of power supply.
He said the measures would help minimise power interruptions and address low-voltage problems in several parts of the state.
