In order to meet the future demand, power generation in the State, which is expected to increase in multifold, AP power utilities has given utmost priority for infrastructure development by investing Rs 14,000 crores in the next four years, said APTransco CMD Hiralal Samariya on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion of 66th Independence Day celebrations at Vidyut Soudha here, Samariya said the utilities are fully geared up to keep pace with the growing demand in the State with the planned capacity addition and keen to reduce T&D losses. In the next four years, it is proposed to add around 7000 ckm of EHT lines and another 166 EHT substations out of which 4 are 400kV, 37 are 220kV and 125 are 132kV, with an investment of about Rs.6,000 crores. Rs 8,000 crores will be invested in strengthening of distribution lines, erection of new distribution transformers and so on, he added.
Addressing the employees of APTransco and APGenco, Samaria reiterated the importance of consumer services in a sector like power and said consumer satisfaction will be given top most priority. He appreciated the efforts made by engineers and all employees of power utilities for their valuable services in the last one year during which AP power sector faced many challenges like unusual growth in demand, severe shortage for Natural Gas, reduced hydel inflows and so on. Even though the situation has become a little better due to increase in water levels in the reservoirs, which improved hydel generation, he called upon the employees to rededicate themselves for the betterment of power sector and be prepared to face the challenges by following five points viz., Strict discipline; Strong determination; Loyal commitment; Dedication to the profession Service motto for ensuring consumer satisfaction and not to leave single opportunity to serve consumers in a much better fashion.
Samaria said that AP power utilities further aim to reduce Transmission & Distribution (T&D) losses to below 15% as against the existing losses of 16.58% through adoption of latest initiatives such as strengthening of Extra High Voltage Transmission Network and increasing transmission availability, effective implementation of various ongoing schemes.
APGenco MD Vijayanand, APGenco JMD D. Prabhakar Rao, APTransco JMDs of P. Umapathi, Ranganatham, Directors of APTransco and APGenco, officials of Power Sector employees participated in the celebrations and paid rich tributes to freedom fighters, who sacrificed their lives and fought to free their motherland from the clutches of British rulers. The APTransco CMD distributed awards to the employees as a token of recognition of their hard work and dedication towards the organization. (NSS)