Andhra Pradesh: Minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy clarifies on hike of electricity charges

Andhra Pradesh minister of Energy, Forest, and Environment, Science and Technology Balineni Srinivasa Reddy made a crucial statement regarding power tariffs in the state. He said the government had no intention of raising electricity charges. He unveiled the logo of the state energy conservation mission and said that the government has decided not to burden the people even though the power sector is facing financial difficulties. He said the coronavirus crisis had exacerbated the financial woes of the power companies and was trying to improve the management capacity of the power companies with the participation of the people.

The minister said power companies were facing more financial difficulties with the corona crisis. He emphasised on CM YS Jagan's decision that no burden should be placed on the people. That is why the power distribution companies have submitted the annual revenue requirement reports to the APERC without proposing an increase in charges. He recalled that his government had supported the discs after coming to power and released Rs 17,904 crore in 2019-20. Rs 8,353.58 crore has been earmarked for free supply of electricity to agriculture and Rs 717.39 crore for aqua farmers. He said Rs 1,707 crore was subsidized for household electricity consumers.

The Minister directed the power companies to study the new policies by setting up a special mechanism for achieving the target of cheap electricity. However, the government has appointed more than 7,000 junior linemen in the village and municipal ward secretariats, which has improved the performance of power companies at the field level, Energy Secretary Srikanth Nagulapalli told the minister. Meanwhile, Energy Conservation Week is being held from the 14th to the 20th of this month.