Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Directs Power Utilities to Ensure Uninterrupted Supply During Summer
•February 11, 2026
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Why It Matters
Ensuring reliable supply mitigates summer peak stress, supports industrial and agricultural output, and leverages clean hydro capacity to boost the state’s fiscal health.
Key Takeaways
- •Polavaram hydro to add 960 MW by July 2027
- •Project will supply ~23 million units daily, ₹1,250 cr annual benefit
- •Summer demand forecast up 12%, reaching 260 MU/day
- •APGENCO to modernise thermal plants, improve load factors
- •APTRANSCO tasked with grid stability and transmission deadlines
Pulse Analysis
With the Indian subcontinent entering its hottest months, Andhra Pradesh faces a steep climb in electricity consumption, driven by agricultural irrigation, industrial activity, and residential cooling loads. The state’s current supply of roughly 6,860 MU in January already exceeds the previous year’s figures, and officials anticipate a further 12 percent surge that could push daily demand toward 260 MU by March. To pre‑empt shortages, Chief Secretary K Vijayanand has placed the Polavaram Hydroelectric Project at the centre of the strategy, ordering the first seven 80‑MW Kaplan units to be operational by July 2027.
The Polavaram scheme promises to inject 960 MW of clean, dispatchable power into the grid, translating into about 23 million kilowatt‑hours per day and an estimated ₹1,250 crore in annual savings for the state treasury. By diversifying the generation mix with a large hydro component, Andhra Pradesh can reduce its dependence on coal‑fired plants, lower emissions, and improve plant load factors across APGENCO’s thermal fleet. Reliable, round‑the‑clock supply is also critical for the state’s agrarian sector, where irrigation pumps and cold‑storage facilities hinge on uninterrupted electricity.
Achieving these targets will require coordinated action from the entire power ecosystem. APGENCO has been instructed to accelerate renovation of aging thermal units and rationalise coal linkages, while APTRANSCO must fast‑track key transmission corridors and maintain grid stability during peak summer intervals. DISCOMs are expected to bolster consumer services and prepare for the upcoming Rabi season. If the timeline holds, the combined effect of new hydro capacity and upgraded infrastructure could set a benchmark for other Indian states grappling with seasonal demand spikes, reinforcing the role of strategic hydro projects in national energy security.
Andhra Pradesh chief secretary directs power utilities to ensure uninterrupted supply during summer
Source: PTI
Published: Feb 11 2026, 03:24 PM IST
Andhra Pradesh is gearing up for summer power needs. Chief Secretary K Vijayanand has ordered uninterrupted, reliable, and quality electricity supply round the clock.
Andhra Pradesh chief secretary K Vijayanand on Tuesday directed power utilities to ensure uninterrupted, reliable and quality power supply round the clock during the forthcoming summer.
He directed officials to commence power generation from the 960 MW Polavaram Hydel Power Project by July 2027.
During a review meeting on the power‑supply position, the chief secretary said that the Polavaram Hydroelectric Project is progressing at a rapid pace with significant advancements in both civil and electro‑mechanical works and stressed the need for timely completion of all related infrastructure.
“State power utilities must ensure uninterrupted, reliable and quality 24 × 7 electricity during the upcoming summer months,” he said in an official press release.
Polavaram project's first seven out of 12 units are expected to be commissioned by July 2027, while the entire project is scheduled for completion by December 2028.
According to the chief secretary, major equipment, including gas‑insulated and air‑insulated substations have reached the site while the erection of major machinery is progressing expeditiously.
The Chief Secretary observed that the Polavaram Hydel Power Station, equipped with 12 Kaplan turbine units of 80 MW each, will generate 960 MW of clean hydro power, contributing around 23 million units per day to the state grid. He said this will yield an estimated annual benefit of about ₹1,250 crore.
Appreciating the efforts of power utilities in maintaining reliable supply despite rising demand during the Rabi and early summer seasons, Vijayanand noted that on February 9 the total energy demand stood at over 236 MU.
Reviewing month‑wise trends, he said the state recorded about 6,860 MU supply in January with daily demand ranging between 206 and 235 MU, reflecting up to an eight‑percent rise over last year due to higher agricultural and industrial load.
He projected that demand may rise by another 12 percent in the coming months and reach nearly 260 MU per day by March with a peak load of around 14,000 MW during March‑April.
Directing utilities to ensure adequate availability through meticulous scheduling and renewable integration, he asked APGENCO to continue renovation and modernisation of thermal units, rationalise coal linkages and improve plant load factors.
APTRANSCO was instructed to ensure grid stability and complete critical transmission projects on time while DISCOMs were advised to strengthen preparedness for the Rabi season and improve consumer services, the press release added.
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