Naidu pushes pumped storage, solar to cut Andhra power costs

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday directed officials to expand power generation capacity and lower electricity costs. Reviewing the energy department in Amaravati, he ordered feasibility studies for pumped storage projects at 130 reservoirs, including the Polavaram site. Naidu also set a target of installing six lakh solar connections under PM Surya Ghar by September, with another three lakh outside the scheme, and asked the Centre for 10 lakh more. He wants average power purchase cost down to Rs 4.60 per unit this year and Rs 4 by 2029 through renewable energy and power swapping.

Naidu introduced performance-based ratings for six state utilities and pushed for reducing debt and distribution losses. Officials said power purchase optimisation had saved Rs 234 crore, with another Rs 100 crore from prompt-payment rebates. He also flagged deficient rainfall as a risk to hydropower and stressed long-term generation planning as industrialisation could double electricity demand every six years.