Bring power sector back on track, Naidu to officials

Hyderabad, June 22 (INN): As part of efforts to improve efficiency and avoid wastage of power which ultimately leads to improving the performance of power sector and providing quality power supply, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has decided to give top priority to energy efficiency activities.

Accordingly, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has directed the State Energy Conservation Mission (SECM) to take Energy Efficiency & Energy Conservation (EE&EC) programmes to consumers at grass rot level in a time-bound manner by adopting technologies of global standards wherever necessary ``since every unit we conserve is very precious''. To achieve the targeted energy savings, a separate action plan is being prepared by SECM for implementing short & long term programmes duly adopting latest technologies, which will be submitted to the Chief Minister by this month-end.

Disclosing the above details, IYR Krishna Rao, Chief Secretary to Govt of AP & Chairman/SECM who briefed the Chief Minister about various programmes taken up by SECM, said that impressed with the continuous efforts of the Govt. of A.P., the Energy Efficient Services Limited (EESL), Ministry of Power, Govt. of India, New Delhi has agreed to make significant investments in Energy Efficiency programmes putting in place an arrangement to share revenue generated on account of energy savings between Govt. and EESL. Ministry of Power, GoI has set up a viable Energy Service Company - EESL, a Joint Venture of NTPC Limited, PFC, REC and POWERGRID to facilitate effective implementation of energy efficiency projects.

The Chief Minister, who is keen about ensuring 24 hour uninterrupted power supply to domestic sector, 9 hour power supply to agriculture and to achieve self sufficiency in power sector, wanted utmost priority to be given to enhance the generation capacity, strengthen Transmission & Distribution (T&D) network for reducing losses and short term purchases in addition to taking up of EE & EC activities as well as promoting renewable energy sources like solar & wind. Every step initiated by the Govt., towards strengthening of power sector leads to overall development of the state and welfare of the public. During the meeting Chief Minister has directed the top officers of the power sector to take steps to streamline the distribution network for ensuring reliable & quality power supply even in rural areas.

The Chief Minister said that AP is the best state for investments and directed power utilities to specially focus on providing adequate & quality power to industries as huge losses were incurred by industrial sector in the past due to the industrial power holidays.

G Sai Prasad, Secretary to CM (on power), Ajay Jain, Prl. Secretary, Energy (in-charge), Munindra, Spl. Secretary, Energy Dept., K. Vijayanand, CMD/APGENCO & CMD/APTRANSCO (in-charge), participated in the high level meet.

The Chief Secretary has informed the Chief Minister that instructions are going to be issued to all the key department like Industry, Agrl., MA&UD, Panchayat Raj, R&B, Rural Development, etc. to form their own department wise Energy Conservation Cells for continuously monitoring energy conservation activities in their respective Depts., as energy conservation is a least cost option.