AP to expand rural electrification

Power tariff hike under consideration.

Mr K. Rosaiah

Bussinessline Bureau

Hyderabad, Jan. 11

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, on Monday reiterated the Government resolve to provide quality power and plans electrification of new areas.

“The State Government is actively considering a proposal to hike power tariff for consumers in the State next year to offset the increased cost of power generation.

However, the necessary approval has to be secured from the AP Electricity Regulator.”

Following a review of the power sector here, Mr Rosaiah mentioned that it is proposed to electrify 14,334 un-electrified habitations and about 37.99 lakh rural households at a cost of Rs 810 crore under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office, as of December 31, 2009, 13,215 un-electrified habitations and 26.70 lakh rural households including below poverty line rural households have been electrified with an outlay of Rs. 671 crore.

Of the 1,72,835 applications registered as on December last, 1,70,912 urban households have been electrified under the Indiramma scheme.

During December 2009, the State's average energy consumption was 195.6 million units per day as against 177.25 mu during the same period previous year, registering an increase of 10.3 per cent.

The peak demand during December 2009 was 9,309 mw as against 8,482 mw during the same period last year, an increase of 10 per cent.

While all the six units of the Srisailam left bank canal are available for service, three of the seven units of Srisailam right bank canal, which were submerged due to flooding late last year, have been restored.

The 500 mw unit VII of the Vijayawada thermal power station is likely to be stabilised and the overhaul of all the thermal units of AP Genco will be completed by month-end.