Ruling out increase in power tariff in future, Energy Minister Kimidi Kala Venkata Rao on August 6th announced that the State government would launch power storage batteries as a pilot project in one mandal each in Vizianagaram and Nellore districts.

Stating that the issue figured during the visit of the Chief Minister to the U.S., he said after inaugurating a new building built by the Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh (APEPDCL) at a cost of Rs. 5.73 crore that storage through battery would help meet the power demand in case of exigencies like the Cyclone Hudhud.

The new building will house a video conference hall and offices which include the IT and SAP wings, centralised call centre, load monitoring cell and conference hall at the corporate office of APEPDCL.

The Minister said per unit cost of power saved in batteries like inverters would cost Rs. 8 per unit and hoped that it could come down going by the solar power production cost, which had witnessed a remarkable drop from Rs. 18 to Rs. 2.41 per unit due to technological advancement.

Mr. Rao, in response to questions by reporters, said the first generation reforms implemented by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu during his previous stint had finally paved the way for making Andhra Pradesh a power surplus State. "Henceforth, the power tariff will reduce and there is no scope for further increase in electricity charges," he stated.

The Minister said due to the proactive policies of Mr. Naidu, the transmission and distribution losses had been reduced from 27% to 9%.

According to him, 1% reduction would result in a saving of Rs. 360 crore. Now AP had been adjudged No. 1 in India in the implementation of power reforms and congratulated the APEPDCL on emerging as the best distribution company for highest realisation of revenue.

The Hindu | www.thehindu.com