Hyderabad|India|May'2010: Well done. Keep it up. Excellent and most judicious management of power supply in spite of severe constraints and unprecedented demand. You have saved the farmers' interest and the students. I really appreciate you for a job well done. Undoubtedly, you have come to my expectations. Even people understood the most difficult period you have gone through and going through. Under these circumstances you have done what was best possible. I am sure you will continue the good job", Chief Minister Dr. K. Rosaiah told the power sector officials.

The Chief Minister immediately after returning from Visakahapatnam tour reviewed the latest power situation on the conclusion of the rabi season with the power sector officials. Dr Rosaiah had a special word of praise for Principal Secretary, Energy, Suthirtha Bhattacharya, Chairman and MD, APTransco Ajay Jain and CMDs of four DISCOMs and the entire power sector staff for the most efficient management of the power supply during the peak season.

"Now you must chalk out a short term and long term strategy to meet the future power demand which is ever increasing. You must have a complete thorough plan to meet the power requirements for the next rabi now itself. There should be advance planning. Andhra Pradesh is in the forefront of agricultural production. The nation much depends on our farm sector for the food security. Hence we have to provide the needed power supply to the farmers for the next rabi. On one side we have to expedite the construction of power projects. On the other side we have to evolve a short, medium and long term strategy to meet the future power demand in the State", the Chief Minister told the power sector officials.

The Chief Minister said that Andhra Pradesh is one of the fastest developing State. "Demand for power from all sectors, agricultural, domestic and industrial is ever increasing. We have the maximum number Special Economic Zones. We are also leading in agricultural production. Though we have planned for power generation in a big way, the projects take time for commercial operations. But the demand is shooting up. I do not want the agriculture sector to suffer at any cost. Hence the APTransco has to plan for short, medium and long term power purchases, if needed, well in advance", Dr. Rosaiah said.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government had granted permission for starting power plants for AP Genco, Reliance Ultra Mega Power Project, Simhapuri, Meenakshi. Krishnapatnam Power Plants, Kinitha and other companies for their power projects in Nellore districts. We have also permitted the Singareni Collieries to launch a power project at Jaipur Mandal in Adilabad district. We are also promoting captive power plants besides solar power plants, wind power and other Non Conventional Energy Projects wherever feasible.

Dr Rosaiah said that the Government is promoting AP Genco to launch as many power projects--hydro, thermal and gas-based in different parts of the State. "I have also taken up with the Government of India for additional allocation from the unallocated power from the Central Power Grid", he said. The Government of India also agreed to allocate adequate gas from the K-G basin for all the power plants in Andhra Pradesh. I have impressed upon the need for additional gas even for future power plants", Dr Rosaiah said.

Mr. Ajay Jain informed the Chief Minister that APTransco and AP Discoms have supplied 32,653 Million Units (MU) from December 2009 to April 2010 during the Rabi season as against 30,001 MU supplied during the same period last year. This is an increase of 2,653 MU over last year registering an increase of 9%. As per Government priority, 7 hours supply to agriculture was ensured. Daily monitoring of agriculture feeders was done to ensure that 7 hours of supply is given to the agriculture. Similarly night supply from evening 7.00 pm to 7.00 am was ensured for the benefit of student community during the examination time. All Drinking water schemes, both rural and urban, were given priority in power supply.

Out of above 32,653 MU supplied, 1,741 MU were purchased by Discoms at a total cost of about Rs.700 crores. Out of the above 1,741 MU, 691 MU was purchased from traders, 325 MU from Power Exchanges and 506 MU from captive generators within the State. Most of the captive generators were persuaded to sell power to Discoms only within the State. Even though, Hydel availability was low compared to last year, the generation from Hydel stations was regulated to meet the peak agriculture demand during early morning hours.

Despite all constraints, power supply to agriculture sector was ensured by daily monitoring in close co-ordination with Discoms, and other Govt. departments like Agriculture and Revenue departments to ensure that standing crops are not affected for want of power supply. The energy demand for the year 2009-10 has been 79,108 MU against 70,756 MU during last year, an increase of 11.8% increase. The growth of energy has been 15 % for domestic sector, 14% for commercial sector, 10% for industrial sector and 10% for agricultural sector over the previous year.

-May' 2010