VISAKHAPATNAM: The power utilities in state have laid special focus on power supply to agricultural and domestic sectors in view of the ongoing power supply shortage in the country.
The state officials said the present electricity restrictions will be temporary and the situation may come back to normal by the end of April. The total energy demand in all sectors in 2018-19 was 63,605 million units, which increased by 8.3 perc ent to 68,905 MU in 2021-22. There was an increase of 32 per cent, 6 per cent and 16 per cent in domestic, industrial and agricultural categories respectively.
The energy demand is forecast at 6,720 MU for April 2022, which was 5,721 MU in April 2019. The high demand is primarily attributed to resumption of economic activities across sectors like industries, commercial, agriculture and domestic purposes in the state with the improving Covid-19 situation.
According to the officials, the state government has given clear directions to the energy department to take all necessary steps to continue the daytime power supply to the agriculture sector even as there is a significant shortage in power availability in the state. The government has categorically said that even an acre should not get affected due to the shortage of power supply.
During a review meeting on power supply position with power utilities, state energy secretary B Sreedhar asked the officials to be cautious over the power supply to domestic and agricultural sectors.
The grid officials opined that the shortage of coal has become a critical issue, which is also being faced by several other states in the country. Due to the Russia-Ukraine war situation in Asia and Europe, the international coal prices have surged manifold.
Coal prices have touched 40,000 per tonne mark against the average price of 8,000 due to shortage of coal availability in the market. States like Gujarat and Maharashtra are also facing power supply shortage.
Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has taken the issue to the notice of the Union government, requesting the latter to pursue the issues related to coal supply on a sustainable basis to meet the future energy demand in Andhra Pradesh.
