Andhra Pradesh is advancing a 100 GW clean-energy project pipeline while expanding rooftop solar access, distribution upgrades and feeder-level solarisation, state Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar said at a meeting with APSPDCL officials in Tirupati on Tuesday.
The minister said projects with a combined generation capacity of 100 GW were under agreement. He also said one lakh rooftop solar systems had been installed within six months at the homes of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe consumers in areas served by the Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL).
According to Ravi Kumar, Andhra Pradesh has secured fourth position nationally in rooftop solar installations. The state is continuing work to provide what he described as quality and uninterrupted power supply, with rooftop solar forming a major part of the current expansion.
The wider installation target covers six lakh SC and ST consumers under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is regularly reviewing the progress of the programme, the minister said. He warned that action would be taken against contractors who fail to complete the installations within the prescribed time.
The state’s clean-energy expansion is also being linked to pressure on its existing power mix. Ravi Kumar said reduced hydropower generation due to El Niño conditions had increased dependence on thermal and solar power. The statement did not provide the extent of the reduction in hydropower generation or the additional thermal and solar capacity being used as a result.
The minister directed officials to accelerate distribution-network strengthening under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. He also called for faster implementation of feeder-level solarisation under PM KUSUM, with the objective of providing farmers nine hours of daytime power.
Feeder solarisation is intended to connect agricultural electricity supply more closely with renewable generation at the distribution level. In Andhra Pradesh’s case, the direction places the focus not only on adding generation capacity but also on strengthening the local network needed to deliver electricity to consumers and agricultural users.
Consumer service and electrical safety were included in the instructions issued at the meeting. Ravi Kumar asked officials to strengthen the 1912 consumer service centre and resolve complaints quickly. He also directed them to identify low-hanging power lines and transformers located dangerously close to residential areas to help prevent electrical accidents.
Staff shortages within the distribution utility were another issue raised during the meeting. The minister said 629 assistant executive engineer posts were being filled to improve consumer services and address the shortage of technical personnel. Earlier, he distributed appointment orders to 46 people selected under compassionate appointments in APSPDCL.
The announcements place rooftop solar, agricultural power supply, distribution infrastructure and consumer grievance systems within a single implementation agenda. The immediate milestones are the completion of the remaining installations planned for six lakh SC and ST consumers, the progress of the 100 GW project pipeline, network strengthening under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme and feeder solarisation under PM KUSUM.
