A.P. targets to reduce average power purchase cost to ₹3.90 per unit by 2035

Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K. Vijayanand has said that efforts are under way to reduce the average power purchase cost to ₹4.20 per unit by 2030 and ₹3.90 per unit by 2035 as part of the Accelerating Sustainable State Energy Transition Programme (ASSET), whose blueprint was recently submitted by the NITI Aayog. 

The State is strategically moving towards clean energy-based economic growth and achieving self-reliance in the energy sector, he observed. 

Making a presentation on the strategies for fuel and energy cost optimisation in the meeting of Ministers and Secretaries chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, Mr. Vijayanand said that the government was striving for achieving the goal to provide eco-friendly, low-cost and reliable power supply with the due focus on solar, wind and hydropower and green hydrogen, while using thermal power primarily for grid stability. 

He noted that the State was progressing towards net-zero emissions through green hydrogen production, by building smart grids, increasing the penetration of rooftop solar power, laying greater emphasis on electric mobility and adopting AI-based energy management systems. 

Mr. Vijayanand said power was being  supplied during the day to 2.93 lakh agricultural pumpsets free of cost under the PM-KUSUM, and installation of 150 MW solar systems on government buildings was in progress. A 1.50 GW/3 GWh Battery Energy Storage System was being set up to help in load management and timely supply. 

Besides, implementation of automated forecasting, bidding, and power scheduling was being done through the Energy Portfolio Management System at the Andhra Pradesh State Load Dispatch Centre. Focus was laid on smart metering and curbing power theft through better network monitoring. 

Mr. Vijayanand said the NITI Aayog estimated that dedicated solar systems for agriculture would help bring down the government’s subsidy burden significantly. “Andhra Pradesh is revolutionising the energy sector to ensure sustainable development and low-cost power for all by 2035,” he added.