A.P. govt. plans 29 new substations to meet imminent spurt in power demand

Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar has said the Andhra Pradesh government has planned to set up 29 new substations of 132 kV, 220 kV, and 400 kV capacities to meet the imminent spurt in demand for power on account of the establishment of new industries.

These substations would play a crucial role in strengthening the grid, facilitating seamless power flow, and improving system reliability, he observed while addressing a review meeting with the top officials of the AP-Transco and APSPDCL on Thursday.

Mr. Ravi Kumar said Andhra Pradesh was emerging as a preferred destination for large-scale industries, and the Energy Department was doing advance planning, strengthening, and augmentation of power infrastructure.

He emphasised that the power utilities must prepare for future loads now to ensure the supply of 24×7 quality and reliable power supply. 

He noted that the State was already registering a surge in power demand due to the establishment of new industries, expansion of manufacturing units, and rapid development of industrial corridors. He made it clear that the government was giving a top priority to consumer satisfaction, especially farmers and domestic consumers. 

The Minister inquired about the status of transmission and distribution projects under execution and expressed concern over the delays in some stretches.

He instructed the utilities to accelerate construction by removing bottlenecks, improving coordination with contractors, and ensuring adequate manpower and material availability. He asked the AP- Transco and DISCOMs to submit progress reports every 15 days so that the required actions can be taken. 

Reaffirming the government’s long-term vision, Mr. Ravi Kumar said Andhra Pradesh was committed to building a robust, future-ready transmission and distribution network capable of supporting rapid industrial growth, promoting Ease of Doing Business, and ensuring high-quality power supply to all categories of consumers.

Steps were taken to strengthen the power sector to make the State a leader in energy reliability and infrastructure readiness, he added.