Published Sep 17, 2026 | 6:20 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 17, 2026 | 6:20 PM
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Synopsis: With demand outpacing supply, discoms find themselves helpless. The El Niño effect has driven a sharp rise in power usage this September across domestic, agricultural, and aquaculture sectors alike and that hasn’t helped. A look at what people in AP’s worst-hit regions have to say.
Andhra Pradesh’s villages and towns are reeling from power cuts even during the monsoon season this year.
With the El Niño effect kicking in, electricity demand in the state has surpassed summer levels.
Since June this year, drought-like conditions have prevailed across the state. As the heat and humidity soar, peak demand has continued to rise.
Although this rise in demand was anticipated, power distribution companies (discoms) are unable to bridge the deficit or provide advance notice regarding load shedding. To balance the gap between demand and supply, frequent power cuts are being imposed everywhere, impacting rural areas the most.
The state’s peak power demand has crossed previous highs. Discoms are now urging consumers to cut down on usage.
The soaring consumption has hit farmers badly. Regardless of the region—North Coastal Andhra, Coastal Andhra, or Rayalaseema—agricultural power is being curtailed, and no area is receiving uninterrupted supply.
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Andhra Pradesh currently needs to buy 40–50 million units of electricity every day to meet its regular demand, at a daily cost of roughly ₹28–35 crore. Daytime consumption alone accounts for about 30 million units, purchased at ₹5.774 per unit. However, during peak demand periods, the state has had to pay as much as ₹9.994 per unit.
AP Transco officials state that daily consumption has risen by an additional 40–50 million units on average compared to last year. Despite readiness to pay higher prices, electricity is scarce in the open market as other states are also facing similar conditions.
Until July, 20 million units were purchased daily from the open market; this rose to 30 million units starting in August.
While consumption was 210 million units in the second week of September 2025, it had reached 298 million units on 10 September 2026.
Meanwhile, shifting weather conditions have driven electricity consumption to record levels since early September, with daily demand consistently exceeding 290 million units since the first week of the month.
Officials note that every time consumption exceeds 290 million units, stress on the grid increases.
With demand outpacing supply, discoms find themselves helpless. Even during this year’s summer, consumption had stayed below the 290-million-unit mark. But the El Niño effect has driven a sharp rise in power usage this September across domestic, agricultural, and aquaculture sectors alike, forcing authorities to resort to power cuts under the guise of Emergency Load Relief (ELR).
Thermal power plants across the state are operating at full capacity, yet still cannot keep pace with demand. Compounding the problem is an impending coal shortage, with VTPS (Vijayawada Thermal Power Station) and RTPS (Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station) left with reserves for just three to four more days.
Meanwhile, Solar and wind energy are meeting part of the state’s power needs this year.
Last year, renewable energy generation was under 100 million units, but this year solar and wind output has increased to 150 million units.
Although the central government offers incentives through schemes like PM Surya Ghar, discoms have, however, failed to take them widely to the ground level.
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Unannounced power cuts have caused severe difficulties in rural areas and cities like Vijayawada.
Without rains for kharif crops, farmers rely on borewells and agricultural motors, driving up demand for electricity.
The daily power consumption quota was fixed at 11 million units in the Vijayawada circle. However, high humidity and daytime temperatures hovering near 40°C have led to higher usage of ACs and coolers, in turn increasing the power consumption substantially.
Power supply to residential areas in Vijayawada is now being cut even during the evening peak hours of 6 PM to 10 PM. As commercial zones like shopping complexes, theatres, and showrooms require heavy power, cuts are imposed on domestic consumers. A similar situation prevails in Guntur city.
Patibandla Venkatesh, a farmer from Ponnur in Guntur district, shared that everyone he knows is suffering as water is not reaching them from the Buckingham Canal and power cuts have made borewell farming difficult. Patibandla has given up hope about this year’s harvest.
Phani, an aquaculture farmer from Karlapalem in Bapatla district, also said that outages are causing severe trouble.
A similar plight exists in the Godavari districts of Coastal Andhra.
Uppalapati Varma, an aqua farmer from Bhimavaram, explained that high humidity has raised the power needed for aqua farming. Mechanical aerators, blowers, and oxygen generators are needed to maintain dissolved oxygen levels in the ponds, and they all need power to run. When the dissolved oxygen levels fall, prawns die. Uppalapati said that feed issues were already a burden; now they have to contend with power cuts too.
Due to the lack of rainfall caused by El Niño, the total kharif acreage has also dropped.
Subbarao, a farmer from Pamarru, said he relies on motors for paddy cultivation since tail-end lands are not receiving canal water, and delta canals lack full supply. He added that no one informs them about power supply timings, leaving him unaware of when power will be available.
The impact of power cuts is severe across Rayalaseema districts– Kadapa, Anantapur, and Chittoor. Daytime agricultural supply has been cut down to 7 hours. In Chittoor district, officials directed industries to use power only between 6 PM and 10 PM. In Tirupati, domestic consumers face power cuts lasting two to four hours.
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Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar responded by stating that the El Niño effect has severely hit the electricity department, with extreme heat creating an extra demand of 50 million units. But he insisted that the power supply cuts are fewer in Andhra Pradesh when compared to many other states.
Kumar mentioned that while the demand was 240 million units on September 17 last year, it currently stands at 290 million units. “All power generation units in the state are operating at full capacity, and steps are being taken to ensure thermal power stations do not face coal shortages,” he added.
The minister explained that hydropower generation has dropped completely due to the lack of rain. He stated that efforts are underway to provide uninterrupted electricity to households, agriculture, and industries.
“Demand is 20% higher compared to last year. Power is being purchased from the open market to match the demand.”
He also mentioned that efforts are being made to store solar power in batteries for use during peak hours, targeting a power generation capacity of 5,500 MW.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
