Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday asked the Discoms to ensure seven hours of power supply to farmers, under any circumstances.
The Chief Minister issued these instructions during a detailed review meeting on the power sector he held with Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi and other officials at the State Secretariat. He asked them to look into the complaints being received in this regard. This should be strictly adhered to and there should be constant monitoring on this, he told the Discom officials.
The Chief Minister also told the Discoms to see that dedicated vehicles with GPS system attached should be used for replacement of failed distribution transformers without delay on receiving the complaints. He said the GPS system will ensure the replacement of failed transformers wherever they are at the earliest. He asked the Discom officials to send him a monthly report on the replacement of failed distribution transformers.
The Chief Minister directed that by 1st September, 2012, GPS attached vehicles should be operational throughout the State for replacement of failed distribution transformers once the complaint or call is received.
Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi, Principal Secretary, Infrastructure & Investments, Suthirtha Bhattacharya, CMD, A.P.Transco, H.Samariya, MD, A.P.Genco, K Vijayanand, Secretary to CM, K S Jawahar Reddy, MD, CPDCL, G. Anantha Ramu, MD, SPDCL, Vidyasagar Reddy, MD, NPDCL, Narasimha Reddy, JMD, Ranganatham and other officials attended the meeting.
AP Transco CMD Suthirtha Bhattacharya and other officials explained to the Chief Minister that the present power supply position was satisfactory and that seven hours of power supply to agriculture sector mostly in two spells was being ensured. Small Scale Industries, Spinning mills, Rice mills, Poultry, Cold storage, Govt. hospitals, Drinking water, Traction, Seed processing and Life saving drugs have been exempted from power cuts. Major Industries are having 30 per cent power cut as of now.
The average demand this month (up to 28th) is 262 MU per day against 227 MU per day during the same period last year registering an increase of 15.41 per cent. Presently Discoms are supplying around 239 MU/day with a shortfall of 29 MU per day. The Peak demand met during May is 11099 MW against 10474 MW during the same period last year registering an increase of 5.97 per cent.
During 2011-12, as against requirement of 91730 MU, 85149 MU was met resulting in a deficit of 6581 MU (7.2%). Officials said power supply position in Andhra Pradesh is far better compared to many other States in the country.
The total installed capacity of gas based stations is 2770 MW. Due to drastic reduction in supply of gas from Reliance D-6 blocks leading to idle capacity of about 1,300 MW. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has indicated further reduction of gas from existing level which may further reduce the PLF of new IPPs which are currently operated at critical level of 38 per cent. (INN)