Special Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand (middle) with APGenco MD S. Nagalakshmi and APTransco Joint MD G. Surya Sai Praveenchand in a review meeting at the Vidyut Soudha in Vijayawada on Friday.
State-owned thermal power stations in Andhra Pradesh generated a record 19,268 million units (MU) of electricity in the first half of the financial year 2026-27 (April to September), 13.10% higher than the 17,037 MU generated during the corresponding period last year, an increase of 2,231 MU, Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K. Vijayanand said on Friday.
Speaking at a review meeting at Vidyut Soudha here, he said the government had put in place a robust fuel security system and a comprehensive advance power purchase plan in view of the State Load Despatch Centre’s (SLDC) advisories on El Niño. The weather phenomenon had led to weaker rainfall and higher temperatures, pushing up electricity demand.
The average availability of thermal power stations rose from 66% to 79%, while the Plant Load Factor (PLF) improved from 58.70% to 66.40%. The seventh unit of Dr. NTTPS operated continuously for 146 days and the eighth unit for 101 days without a single trip, he said.
Mr. Vijayanand said alternative coal sources had been arranged following a steep decline in supplies from Singareni Collieries. Only 35% of the allotted coal quantity reached Dr. NTTPS from Singareni Collieries, while the corresponding figure for the Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant was 14%.
Of the five lakh metric tonnes of coal contracted by AP Power Development Company Limited, three vessels had already arrived at Krishnapatnam port, while the fourth was expected by mid-October. Supply schedules were in place up to mid-2027, he said.
Recalling that the distribution companies (DISCOMs) had successfully managed outages caused by boiler tube leakages in September by purchasing 989.30 MU from the open market, Mr. Vijayanand outlined the month-wise power purchase plan prepared by the AP Power Coordination Committee based on the SLDC’s El Niño projections.
The plan included a 700 MW spinning reserve, or standby capacity kept ready to meet sudden increases in demand or unexpected power plant outages.
APGenco Managing Director S. Nagalakshmi, APTransco Joint Managing Director G. Surya Sai Praveen Chand, APGenco Directors M. Sujay Kumar and P. Ashok Kumar Reddy, and APTransco Directors A.K.V. Bhaskar and Venkata Ramana Murthy were among those present.
Published – October 09, 2026 07:16 pm IST
