To enhance demand-side management, "time of the day" (ToD) tariffs are fixed for Low Tension (LT) Industrial and Commercial consumers. Previously, they were only for High Tension (HT) consumers.
Published Feb 21, 2025 | 12:23 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 21, 2025 | 12:23 PM
APERC Chairman-in-Charge Thakur Ram Singh. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh government has spared all sectors, including domestic, from any hike in power tariff in the upcoming financial year. It has given an undertaking to APREC that it would bridge the entire revenue gap of ₹12,632.4 crore, to prevent the power utilities from resorting to a power tariff hike for all consumer categories.
The Andhra Pradesh government has spared all sectors, including domestic, from any hike in power tariff in the upcoming financial year. It has given an undertaking to the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) that it would bridge the gap of ₹12,632 crore between the revenue and expenditure of the three power utilities in the state.
APERC Chairman-in-Charge Thakur Ram Singh released the power tariff order in Tirupati for 2025-26 on Thursday, 20 February.
The APERC approved an Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR) of ₹57,544.17 crore for the three DISCOMs (power distribution companies), which is ₹1,324 crore less than the DISCOMs’ filings.
The APERC approved a total revenue of ₹44,323.3 crore, slightly higher than the DISCOMs’ filings, and a revenue gap of ₹12,632.4 crore, which is ₹2,050.86 crore less than the DISCOMs’ filings.
The TDP-led NDA government in the state has given an undertaking that it would bridge the entire revenue gap of ₹12,632.4 crore, to prevent the power utilities from resorting to a power tariff hike for all consumer categories.
The subsidy which the government provides includes concessions and free power supply to specific categories like agriculture, horticulture nurseries, fishermen, aquaculture, and Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) households.
For the first time, the APERC has determined energy dispatches hourly for a more realistic assessment of short-term power requirements.
The state-owned GENCOs (power generation companies) are permitted to procure imported coal and obtain coal through Rail-cum-Sea-Rail (RSR) mode to ensure full generation capacity and reduce DISCOMs’ dependence on markets. The RSR is a method that combines rail and sea routes to move coal to GENCOs.
To enhance demand-side management, “time of the day” (ToD) tariffs are fixed for Low Tension (LT) Industrial and Commercial consumers. Previously, they were only for High Tension (HT) consumers.
The ToD tariff differentiates electricity charges based on the time of consumption.
Peak Hours (6 pm to 10 pm): An additional charge is levied during these hours to discourage consumption when the demand is highest.
Off-Peak Hours (10 pm to 6 am): A reduced rate is offered during these hours to encourage consumption when the demand is lower.
From 1 April 2025, individuals constructing or reconstructing their homes will be billed at domestic tariff instead of commercial tariff.
According to the order, standby tariffs now apply to all open-access users, not just green energy open-access users. Open-access users source power directly from generators rather than the local utility, often using a power exchange or third-party agreements.
Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations with a connected load of up to 150 kW will be supplied power at the LT voltage level. The tariff for EVs remains unchanged at ₹6.7 per unit demand charges.
The APERC approved an additional load regularisation scheme for domestic consumers, which requires payment of only 50 percent of the development charges. The scheme will be in force from 1 March 2025 to 30 June 2025.
Under this scheme, consumers can voluntarily declare additional loads via an online window. DISCOMs will regularise additional loads and collect 50 percent of development charges. The DISCOMs will also collect security deposits for additional loads.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
