Utilities in Andhra Pradesh have totally lifted power cuts on the industrial sector consumers.
Due to heavy rains and good inflows into Krishna basin reservoirs and also reduction of overall energy demand in the State, AP power utilities today lifted all curbs on the industrial sector.
M. Sahoo, State Special Chief Secretary, Energy, said about 2.5 lakh industrial consumers in the State will get their full quota of contracted demand after a long period.
Industrial consumers have been facing huge power cuts for more than 18 months, including power holidays as the demand supply gap had shot up to over 50 million units per day. This move is expected to provide a major relief to industrial consumers.
With high reservoir levels and optimisation of power generation through hydel plants has helped the State to remove the power holidays to industries. This will pave way for industrial and economical development of the State, he said.
AP Transco has received a communication from Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) removing the prevailing restriction & control (R&C) measures with effect from August 1, 2013. This enables all categories of consumers covered under R&C measures to avail 100 per cent power supply.
With continuing heavy inflows into Srisailam reservoir from upper reaches of Krishna river have boosted the storage capacity to 882 feet as against full reservoir level of 885 feet. The dam is generating from both its power houses contributing to about 18 million units. Crest gates from the dam have also been lifted to release water downstream to Nagarjunasagar dam.
The water level in Nagarjunsagar dam has also shot up past the 540 feet mark as against full reservoir level of 590. The dam has had a gain of about 30 feet in the past few days. If the present level of inflow of over four lakh cusecs continues, the water level is expected to rapidly raise. This will enable the authorities to consider power generation there.
The power generation from hydel plants will enable AP Genco to take up annual maintenance work on some of its thermal plants.