To bail the State out from severe power crunch and to avoid restrictions in the long run besides achieving targeted goals in power sector, the State Government has firmed up its resolve to expedite implementation of five-point program to provide adequate and satisfactory power supply to key sectors like Agriculture, Industry and domestic supply.
This will, in turn, help in considerable economic development of the State by enhancing power generation to optimum capacity, reduction of transmission, distribution and commercial losses, effective implementation of energy conservation and energy efficiency programs; promoting green energy by renewable energy resources and comprehensive communication strategy involving all stakeholders.
Disclosing these during the brief interaction with officials of State Energy Conservation Mission (SECM) on Saturday evening, Chief Secretary and Chairperson/SECM P.K. Mohanty said he was keen on making power sector self-reliant and sustainable not just for all-round development of the State but also for providing satisfactory power supply to all consumers. Energy Conservation & Energy Efficiency (EC & EE) will enable the power utilities to serve the consumers in a much better way. It is pertinent to note that even in this critical juncture in the power sector which is facing an unprecedented fuel crisis and increased demand, the per capita consumption of AP (1019 units) has crossed the National average of per capita consumption of 879.2 units.
The Chief Secretary said priority for energy conservation and efficiency programs will continue and the targeted energy savings of around 1500 crore units per year were achieved. He suggested to the Energy Principal Secretary to adopt short-term and long-term goals on energy conservation and efficiency programs. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is very keen on providing reliable and adequate power supply to the maximum extent possible, particularly for Agriculture sector apart from focusing on avoiding wastage of energy through EC and EE programs, the CS added.
The SECM chairperson thanked his predecessor Minnie Mathew for her pro-active role on promoting energy efficiency to the larger extent and spearheading the holy movement of energy conservation campaign. In future also conservation of energy will be the mantra to provide relief to the stakeholders as well as the sector, he added.
Keeping in view the significance of EC&EE, the Chief Secretary advised officials to study best practices on Energy Efficiency on par with National/International standards and also development of renewable energy, particularly harnessing the solar power. He also said even advanced countries are focusing on energy efficiency to protect the natural resources like coal and gas for future generations and to reduce global warming.
Energy Principal Secretary and Chairman APGenco briefed the Chief Secretary that State was expecting additional generation of around 4000 MW within a couple of years and the administrative sanctions were also issued to APGenco for setting up five new Thermal Power Units – total 3720 MW (Vijayawada- 800 MW; Kothagudem – 800 MW; Krishnapatnam – 800 MW; Ramagundam – 2X660 MW). The State also contemplated to reduce the Technical and Commercial losses to below 15% by 2014-15.
The power utilities in the State are forced to impose power supply restrictions due to severe fuel crisis. Fuel crisis is a national issue and AP is no exception. The relevant GOs on ECB Code and to give incentives to energy efficient industries will be issued soon to realise the targeted energy savings in large buildings and all the industries. The Energy Dept. also plans to strengthen comprehensive communication strategy to disseminate the factual position and relevant information to the general public and all stake holders and to seek their support and involvement for strengthening of the sector, Sahoo added.
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