A.P. a role model in implementing energy efficiency programmes: Chief Secretary

Chief Secretary and Special CS (Energy) K. Vijayanand on Saturday (December 20) said Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) has emerged as a role model for other States in energy efficiency and energy conservation, driven by its forward-looking policies, effective implementation and sustained commitment across industries, buildings, institutions and urban local bodies (ULBs).

Participating as chief guest in the valedictory function of the National Energy Conservation Week–2025 celebrations organised by the State Energy Conservation Mission (SECM) here, Mr. Vijayanand said the State adopted a structured approach to energy conservation from 2015, beginning with the conversion of streetlights in Visakhapatnam to LED lights after the Hudhud cyclone. The move resulted in up to 45% energy savings.

With the support of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), over two crore households were covered under LED lighting. Energy savings stood at 30%. Energy-efficient agricultural motors and industrial interventions under the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme led to the completion of three PAT cycles and savings of about 1.35 million tonnes of oil equivalent.

Alongside technology adoption, the State took policy measures, including mandatory energy-efficient and green building norms, leading to approvals for 2,000–3,000 green buildings, he said, highlighting the Integrated Clean Energy Policy, which was aimed at achieving net zero carbon emissions with a target of 160 GW of green energy, of which nearly 100 GW has already been approved.

AP-Genco MD and SECM CEO S. Nagalakshmi said promotion of energy-efficient buildings, implementation of schemes such as PAT, adoption of energy-efficient devices in government institutions, MSMEs and agriculture and promotion of Standards and Labelling programmes would be taken up across the State with greater vigour, having achieved the distinction of being No.1 in Group-II of the National Energy Conservation Awards – 2025.

Later, Mr. Vijayanand and other dignitaries presented State Energy Conservation Awards in gold and silver categories. 

The gold and silver award winners respectively are: NTPC Simhadri and Dr. Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Station in thermal power plant sector; Balaji Cement Works in Krishna district and Jayajyothi Cement Pvt. Ltd. in Kurnool district among cement industries; Divi’s Laboratories-Unit-2, Vizag, and Laurus Labs Unit-3 in Anakapalli district in pharma sector; JNTU Anantapur and GMR Institute of Technology, Rajam (Vizianagaram) among engineering colleges; Welcomehotel by ITC Hotels, Guntur and Novotel Varun Beach, Vizag in hotels category; Sattenapalli bus depot and Razole bus stand in buildings – RTC bus depots / bus stands category; and Tirupati Municipal Corporation and Bhimavaram municipality in institutions (ULBs) category.