HYDERABAD: A day ahead of 2014 Assembly elections, the then TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao had convened a marathon meeting on how to improve the power situation in the newly formed State. The elections to TS Assembly seats were held on April 30, 2014. But, a confident Chandrasekhar Rao had invited the former director of Genco D Prabhakar Rao on April 29 itself to have a meeting on the power sector.
“Rao invited me to discuss the power situation. He told me that his first priority is power and next, water. Rao was confident that he would become the Chief Minister and had a lengthy meeting before elections,” Prabhakar Rao, present TS Transco and TS Genco chairman and managing director (CMD), revealed in a chat with Express team.
On the fifth day after assuming charge, recalls Prabhakar Rao, the Chief Minister had another meeting on the power situation. “We had a brainstorming session at Nagarjuna Sagar project on how to go about on the power issue. At that meeting, the CM gave a direction. Then, we adopted short, medium and long-term plans,” Prabhakar Rao said. As part of the short-term plan, the power utility opted for renewable energy sources to overcome the shortage immediately. As part of the medium-term plan, the power utility booked the corridor to purchase power and for this signed a MoU with Chhattisgarh.
THREE APPS FOR CONSUMERS
The power utilities prepared and successfully launched three mobile applications. “Vidyut Sakthi” App can be downloaded by any consumer to know the power situation of the state. The Discoms prepared two more apps for providing better services to consumers. “If the power consumption is registered with the Discom, he will get an altar on the possible power cut, if any, in his/her locality,” Prabhakar Rao said.
CONSUMER-FRIENDLY TARIFF
Of the 1.36 crore consumers of all categories, the Discoms collect only Rs 1.45 per unit from 79 lakh consumers. Besides, 23.4 lakh farmers get free power. Prabhakar Rao added that the Discoms would not incur any loss as the State government promptly reimburses the amount of subsidy given to various categories of consumers.
WILLING TO RECONCILE WITH AP
On the power-sharing and financial problems with sibling Andhra Pradesh, Prabhakar Rao said: “We are willing to reconcile with Andhra Pradesh. TS has to pay Rs 3,800 crore to AP. But, the investment of TS with regard to Krishnapantam power plant is Rs 1,050 crore. AP is neither sharing power nor returning the money invested by us,” he said.
ELECTRIFYING FIGURES
6,777 MW installed capacity on June 2, 2014
15,348 MW on July 2018
10,500 MW transmission and distribution network in 2014
23,500 MW in July 2018
Rs 6.04 supply cost per unit for power utility
1.36 crore total consumers
79 lakh consumers paying Rs 1.45 per unit
23.4 lakh farmers getting free power
More Power to TS
TS Genco’s own plants will add 5,000 MW
Telangana to get an extra 800 MW from Central share
To add 2,000 MW in solar power