Achieve global standards in 24x7 power supply: Chandrababu Naidu

Amaravati: The State government is planning to introduce global practices to strengthen the power sector in the State with an aim to supply interruption-free quality power to industries and general public too. 

The State government is considering the 24x7 power supply as the main strength to attract investments to the State and it will play a key role in the economic development of the State. 

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed Energy Department to immediately chalk out a special mechanism to improve the existing 24x7 power supply to the highest global standards.

He directed the officials to draw up a comprehensive and concrete action plan to ensure global standards in the existing 24x7 supply. “Study the best practices for reaching the global standards of maximum of 100 minutes of interruption per year and submit a comprehensive report on what measures to be taken to reach the goal,” he said.

During a teleconference with officials of Energy department, the Chief Minister said that top priority should be given to interruption-free quality and cost effective power supply to general public and industries irrespective of the season or the weather.

Naidu also emphasised the need for creating a special mechanism to connect with consumers to bring accountability and increase public satisfaction level from current level of 66% to 90%. “Consumer grievances should be attended on priority so that the satisfactory levels among the general public go up significantly,” he said.

Stating that the power sector helped to achieve double digit growth and bring in investors. Industries like Kia motors chose AP as their destination for setting up industries, Naidu pointed out.

He said, “Now we have set a gigantic target of achieving 15% growth rate. Interruption-free quality power supply plays a major role in achieving the target. We should now focus on reaching global standards. We must make the 24x7 as the most popular and novel scheme,” he said.

He opined that the electricity department should explain the reasons to consumers for any kind of interruption in power supply which brings accountability among the employees and increase consumers’ satisfaction level.

He also directed to conduct consumers meet even at mandal level to take feedback on 24x7 power supply and interruptions and involve general public and public representatives.

The Chief Minister gave his nod for the proposal put up by Principal Secretaries Ajay Jain and K Vijayanand to invest an amount of Rs 4,200 crore out of which Rs 3,500 crore has been allocated to power utilities.

A sum of Rs 720 crore has been allocated for underground cabling in Visakhapatnam. From the World Bank assistance of Rs 3,500 crore, 70% comes as loan and the balance to be contributed by the power utilities.

Energy Minister Kala Venkata Rao said awards would be presented to encourage employees at division or district level who strive to take the people’s satisfaction to the highest level.

Special Chief Secretary Satish Chandra, Principal Secretary G Sai Prasad, advisor K Ranganatham, APEPDCL CMD H Y Dora, JMDs Dinesh Paruchuri and Umapathi and APSEEDCO MD A Chandra Sekhar Reddy participated.