VIJAYAWADA: Holding the previous YSRC administration responsible for the increase in power tariffs levied recently, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday assured to shield consumers from any further hikes and pledged reliable and uninterrupted power supply.
Naidu was speaking during an event where he inaugurated a 400/220 KV Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) built with Rs 505 crore at Tallayapalem in Guntur district. The Andhra Pradesh Transmission Corporation has established the facility, the first-of-its-kind in the State, with an aim to provide uninterrupted, high-quality power to Amaravati.
At the same event, he inaugurated four other substations, built at a cost of Rs 702 crore, and also virtually laid the foundation stone for 14 AP Transco projects worth Rs 4,665 crore.
The capital region receives power from the 220/132/33 KV Tadikonda centre, but with Amaravati’s development underway, the new GIS will support future demand in the capital region. Plans include constructing a 220/33 KV power station next to the existing 400/220 KV facility at Tallayapalem, which will supply power to the 220/33 KV station to be built in Nelapadu.
Additionally, the 132 KV centre at Tadepalli will be upgraded to 220 KV, with power sourced from the Tallayapalem GIS, ensuring robust electricity distribution across the capital region.
These improvements are expected to provide an alternative to the Tadikonda station, ensuring reliable power for Thullur, Mangalagiri, Tadepalli mandals, Guntur and NTR districts, and support for regional industries.
Addressing the gathering, Naidu highlighted the efforts taken by him in the past to modernise substations and reduce transmission losses. He praised the State’s adoption of solar energy and renewable initiatives, which have contributed to lowering the State’s carbon footprint.
Describing the Tallayapalem GIS substation as a milestone in sustainable development, Naidu shared his ambitious goal to complete 12 substations and 10 new transmission lines within the next year.
Further, Naidu criticised the previous administration for neglecting the power sector, which resulted in penalties exceeding Rs 9,000 crore due to the cancellation of power purchase agreements (PPAs).
He said, “Before 2019, the unit price of electricity was Rs 4.70, but the previous government purchased it at Rs 7.61, incurring an additional Rs 3 per unit due to commissions.” Naidu highlighted that power rates have increased nine-fold, placing an additional burden of Rs 32,000 crore on consumers.
He mentioned that the State incurred Rs 500 crore in losses due to unused wind power. Incomplete projects like Krishnapatnam, Vijayawada Thermal Power Plant (VTPS), and the Polavaram Hydel Project have further escalated costs, he pointed out.
“We don’t want to dwell on the previous government’s mistakes, but the funds were drained. Central funds were diverted, spending norms were not adhered to, and utilisation certificates were not submitted. For instance, 45% of funds for the Jal Jeevan Mission and the State’s share were misallocated,” he alleged.
Guntur MP and Union Minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, State Ministers Gottipati Ravikumar (Power), Ponguru Narayana (Municipal Adminstration and Urban Development), Nadendla Manohar (Civil Supplies), Kandula Durgesh (Tourism), Gummadi Sandhya Rani (Tribal, Women & Child Welfare), Tenali MLA Sravan Kumar, Special Chief Secretary (Energy) Vijayanand and others were present.
