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Hans India
30-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
Chief Secretary reviews feeder modernisation
Guntur: Chief Secretary K Vijayanand directed officials to prioritise regular electrical maintenance work and meticulous record-keeping during a review of feeder modernisation projects in Nidubrolu village, Ponnuru Assembly constituency on Tuesday. Accompanied by Guntur district collector S Nagalakshmi, Central Power Distribution Company Ltd (CPDCL) chairman Pulla Reddy, Ponnuru MLA D Narendra Kumar, and Tenali Sub-collector Sanjana Sinha, Vijayanand inspected the ongoing modernisation works, which are being undertaken at a cost of Rs 58.2 lakh under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The Chief Secretary enquired about the agricultural and non-agricultural connections within the feeder limits. CPDCL Chairman Pulla Reddy explained the scope of works under RDSS, including the bifurcation of agricultural and non-agricultural feeders in Guntur and Bapatla assured that these bifurcation works would be completed by the end of September, enabling 24x7 uninterrupted three-phase power supply. Reddy said that Vaddemukkala village currently receives three-phase power, with nine hours of uninterrupted supply. APCPDCL CGM HRD Linga Murthy, Project Director TVSN Murthy, Technical Director Murali Krishna Yadav, and Executive Engineer Bhaskara Rao were also present.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Discoms seek APERC nod to revise power tariffs
Vijayawada: Power tariff in the state may go up slightly in two discoms, while it is expected to be lowered in one discom. The three power distribution companies — Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (EPDCL), Central Ower Distribution Company Limited (CPDCL), and Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (SPDCL) — filed separate petitions before AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) for revision of tariffs. While EPDCL requested the commission to true-down the charges by Rs 1,226 crore, CPDCL and SPDCL together wanted to collect true-up charges to the tune of Rs 842 crore. All three discoms admitted that they collected an additional 40 paise per unit as fuel and power purchase cost adjustment (FPPCA) charges each month in financial year 2024-25 — a financial burden of ₹2,787.19 crore on electricity consumers in the state after the NDA govt came to power. Even if the returns of the discoms' latest filings are taken into consideration, the overall tariff burden levied in the last fiscal would be around Rs 2,300 crore. Consumers under CPDCL and SPDCL are likely to face more burden on the existing power tariff. Taking strong objection to the proposal, CPI-M state secretary V Srinivasa Rao demanded that discoms should first refund the entire Rs 2,787 crore as the govt has promised not to impose any additional burden on electricity consumers. Ch Babu Rao, the party's state secretariat member, asked discoms to stop playing number game in the name of electricity true-up and true-down charges. Speaking at the virtual hearing conducted by APERC, Babu Rao accused the state govt and power distribution companies of burdening consumers. He said in 2024-25, fuel adjustment charges of 40 paise per unit per month were illegally collected in advance from consumers, which totalled to ₹2,787 crore. Criticising the two distribution companies for seeking permission to collect an additional ₹842 crore under true-up charges, he said another distribution company seems to be "deceiving the public" by claiming a surplus. "Authorities of playing a hypocritical game by collecting adjustment charges in advance and calling it a true-down. Adjustment charges are imposed monthly and annually, and true-up charges are levied every five years, exploiting people in various ways," he alleged. GFX Govt has admitted losses of ₹12,818 crore due to delay in construction of VTPS and Krishnapatnam plants Delay in completion of Polavaram hydroelectric plant caused a loss of ₹4,737 crore Transmission and distribution losses between 2019 and 2024 accounted for ₹9,618 crore Suspension of thermal plant production resulted in a loss of ₹3,138 crore to power utilities CPDCL and SPDCL want to increase tariff by Rs 842 crore, while EPDCL wants to reduce charges by Rs 1,287 crore The 3 discoms admitted they have already collected Rs 2,787 crore for 2024-25 on adhoc basis at Rs 0.40 per unit from consumers
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Mass protest in Vijayawada against smart power meters and tariff hikes
A massive protest led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) erupted in Vijayawada on Friday against the installation of smart electricity meters and a steep increase in power tariffs. The CPI(M) activists gathered at the CPDCL headquarters, demanding the rollback of what they termed as 'corporate-driven reforms' that burden consumers. Addressing the gathering, CPI(M) leaders Ch. Babu Rao and D. Kasinath accused the ruling TDP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of betraying public trust by imposing ₹15,485 crore worth of adjustment charges within a year of coming to power, despite promises to reduce electricity costs. Protesters also denounced the forcible installation of smart meters, linking them to corporate interests, particularly Adani. Mr. Babu Rao said: 'Over 50,000 petitions were submitted to CPDCL officials, who initially hesitated to receive them.' The petitions were collected from the public during the party's door to door campaign and padayatras. The protesters, including many women, displayed the petitions symbolically and raised slogans condemning the government's silence and double standards, he said, adding, the TDP, Jana Sena, and BJP, who had once opposed smart meters and filed court cases against them, are now enforcing them silently. The CPIM leaders warned that smart meters, controlled remotely by private firms, would lead to inflated bills and 24/7 surveillance, calling them 'Adani bombs in every household.' They claimed that two crore existing meters were being replaced with prepaid smart meters, shifting financial burdens to the public while giving discounted rates to large corporations. The CPI(M) vowed to escalate the agitation state-wide if the government failed to reverse its decisions. 'If they tamper with the people's electricity, they will lose their political power,' said Babu Rao, invoking the memory of the 2000 electricity movement. The protest ended with a call for public resistance and street-level action across Andhra Pradesh.
Hans India
02-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Smart meter rollout sparks outcry
Vijayawada: CPM State Committee members Baburao and D Kasinath vehemently criticised the Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Limited (APCPDCL)'s directive to install smart meters in residential homes. They displayed copies of the orders issued by APCPDCL while addressing a press conference here on Sunday. Baburao stated that it is 'deplorable' that the coalition government has ordered the installation of Adani prepaid smart electricity meters in homes as its 'first anniversary gift.' Within the CPDCL's jurisdiction, 1.028 million homes in major cities across the combined Krishna, Guntur, and Prakasam districts, totalling 17.24 lakh meters, have been slated for installation. Baburao asserted that the installation of Adani smart meters in every home is a 'systematic arrangement for Adani's permanent exploitation' of every family every day, every hour. The phased installation of 20 million smart meters in every home and commercial establishment across the state is estimated to impose a burden of Rs 25,000 crore on the public, with each meter and its maintenance costing approximately Rs 13,000. Consumers will reportedly be charged a meter rental fee of Rs 100 to Rs 200 per month for 93 months without their full awareness. The 'Time of the Day' metering system, which will record readings hourly and charge higher rates during peak consumption hours at night, will impose an 'even greater burden.' Baburao said that the Electricity Regulatory Commission has already amended its regulations to facilitate this, with the government issuing directives for meter installation for every consumer, including residential homes. He noted that an Adani office and warehouse have already been established at Vidyut Soudha, the main electricity office in Vijayawada, signifying the handing over of the electricity sector. He listed the towns where residential meter installations are initially ordered under CPDCL: Vijayawada, Guntur, Machilipatnam, Ongole, Chilakaluripeta, Gudivada, Amaravati, and Mangalagiri. He demanded a halt to smart meter installations in residential homes, removal of meters already installed in commercial establishments, cancellation of the meter agreement with Adani, and abolition of electricity adjustment charges. Kashi Nath added that a plan has been devised to install smart meters in 352,936 homes in Vijayawada alone. He mentioned that several protests have already been held in Vijayawada. He concluded by stating that it is 'improper' for 'father and son' Chandrababu and Lokesh to go back on their word.
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(M) opposes installation of smart prepaid meters by Adani Transmission Step Seven in A.P.
CPI(M) State secretariat member Ch. Babu Rao and State committee member D. Kasinath on Sunday strongly opposed the installation of smart prepaid meters for LT1 domestic electricity connections in Andhra Pradesh. The CPI(M) leaders said that the AP Central DISCOM (CPDCL) has already given the go-ahead to Adani Transmission Step Seven Limited to start installing the devices in selected subdivisions in AMRUT cities. Mr. Rao at a press conference here released a copy of the letter written by CPDCL Chief General Manager (Projects) K. Linga Murthy to Adani Transmission Step Seven Limited regarding the installation of the smart meters under the Revised Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Mr. Rao termed it a 'gift' by the NDA government to the people on the occasion of completion of its first year in power and that the plan was to install the equipment in 4.10 million homes across the State in a phased manner. He said the stage has been set for exploitation of the people, and noted that by paving the way for installation of smart meters, the TDP, which had vehemently opposed the scheme in the past, has now betrayed the public by giving the installation a green signal. In the CPDCL jurisdiction, 10,28,000 homes in major cities and towns of Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts have been targeted. The CPI(M) leader said that the YSR Congress Party government had signed agreements for the installation of smart meters under pressure from the Centre and now the coalition government is following suit, adding that, 'the BJP, TDP and JSP were all complicit in the matter'. The installation of smart meters entailed a huge burden of nearly ₹25,000 crore on the public, and each device is costing ₹13,000. The NDA government has already imposed four types of adjustment charges, which resulted in a burden of approximately ₹15,485 crore on the people in the last nine months, Mr. Rao said adding that 'the smart meter plan included the collection of monthly rental charges ranging from ₹100 to ₹200 from each consumer for approximately seven-and-half-years.
