Vijayawada: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday directed officials to bring down the state's average power purchase cost to Rs 4.60 per unit by the end of the year. He stressed that technology-driven reforms in the sector must ultimately serve public interest and called for the establishment of a dedicated energy university to promote research.
Review Meeting on Power Sector
Naidu chaired a review meeting on the power sector at his camp office to assess the power supply situation in view of rising temperatures across the state. Officials briefed him on summer power supply, the power procurement plan for 2026-27, and the implementation of PM Surya Ghar and PM Kusum schemes. Naidu called for continuous innovation to achieve low-cost power generation targets.
Current Power Demand and Consumption
Officials informed Naidu that daily power demand during summer is estimated at 275-285 million units. Power consumption so far this month stood at 6,397 million units, a 14% increase compared to the same period last year, driven by summer demand and increased industrial consumption. They also outlined the state's power procurement plans for the next six months, noting that the average power purchase cost had been reduced from Rs 5.20 per unit in April 2025 to Rs 4.90 per unit by March 2026.
Focus on Renewables and Innovation
Naidu directed officials to further reduce costs by focusing on renewable energy, technology adoption, and global best practices in the power sector. He emphasized that developments and innovations across countries must be studied and applied locally. The chief minister asked officials to focus on research in the power sector and directed entities such as Transco and Genco to allocate CSR funds for this purpose. He said the state government would consider budgetary support if required and directed detailed studies on pumped storage-based power generation.
Solar Initiatives and Targets
On solar initiatives, Naidu noted that 52,396 rooftop solar connections had been provided under the PM Surya Ghar scheme so far and asked officials to accelerate implementation by providing two lakh connections every month. Under the PM Kusum scheme, 2.94 lakh connections have been given, and he directed that Phase-I of the scheme be completed by December. Power Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar and senior officials from the power department, Transco, Genco, and discoms attended the review meeting.
Key Targets Announced
- Half of the state's power generation from renewable sources by 2028-29
- Reduce power purchase cost by Rs 0.30 by year-end
- Establish an energy university and promote research and innovation in the power sector
- Set up EV charging stations across the state
- Public awareness campaigns to promote the use and purchase of electric vehicles
