Complaints of frequent power cuts have surfaced across the state, raising concerns about whether Telangana's power grid is faltering. However, the TGTRANSCO dismissed the claims.
Published Feb 17, 2025 | 9:48 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 17, 2025 | 9:48 AM
High voltage power line in field at sunset. (iStock)
Synopsis: Residents in Hyderabad complain of frequent and long power outages. Opposition BRS alleged mismanagement and lack of political will to sustain the state’s energy needs. However, the TGTRANSCO dismissed the claims and said there are no power cuts or power outages anywhere in the state.
The erstwhile BRS government used to take pride in ensuring uninterrupted power supply across Telangana, often touting it as a major achievement that helped industries flourish and kept urban and rural areas powered without disruption.
However, since the Congress came to power in 2024, complaints of frequent power cuts have surfaced, raising concerns about whether Telangana’s once-reliable power grid is faltering.
Talking to South First, multiple residents of Hyderbad, shared their experiences, with some showing hope, while others remaining cynical. Adding to the pressure, power demand has surged once again in January 2025, following a steady month-on-month increase throughout 2024.
Data from Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana (TGSPDCL) indicates that January alone saw a nearly 10 percent rise in power consumption compared to the previous year.
With summer fast approaching — historically a period of peak demand — questions are mounting about whether the state is adequately prepared to handle the upcoming strain on the grid.
The TGSPDCL data detailing the power consumption between January and May 2023 and 2025 depict a pattern of growth. The data is as follows:
The above data indicates that Telangana’s power consumption has grown consistently month-on-month. In fact, in just the first five months of 2024, Telangana had to cater to an increase of over 5.9 percent in consumption.
Hence, the peak power demand of 15,205 MW (Megawatt) in January 2025 is not surprising considering the 13,810 MW last year.
Electricity demand refers to the rate at which electricity is being used at a specific moment, measured in kilowatt (kW), while electricity consumption is the total amount of electricity used over a period of time, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh)
“Initially, there were at least one or two power cuts per week and that too for a long time,” Samyukth, a resident of Kukatpally explained. “Power cuts lasted for about an hour or two, greatly inconveniencing the whole household as the temperature is on the rise. However, there haven’t been any power cuts in the last two weeks,” he continued.
Another resident of Cyberabad, who spoke with South First on condition of anonymity shared a similar experience. “Recently, especially since the first week of February, there have been frequent power outages lasting more than four hours,” he stated.
“Being a person who works remotely, my job depends on having an uninterrupted power supply. Adding to that, since the summer heat has started settling in the city, it will be very difficult to beat the temperatures without a proper power supply,” he continued.
He further held that an uninterrupted power supply is a basic right, “It should not be a matter of generosity by the government.”
In the 2024-2025 state budget, the government had announced measures to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
“In view of the increasing power demand of the state and to reduce transmission losses and strengthen the grid network, an investment of ₹3,017 crores is proposed for the construction of 11 new Extra High Tension (EHT) sub-stations and 31 Extra High Voltage (EHV) power transformers during this financial year,” Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka had said.
However, none of these projects have materialised in the subsequent six months. Yet, Telangana also welcomed additional power projects in the state by signing multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Switzerland’s Davos in January 2025.
Meanwhile, data from the Telangana Generation Corporation Limited ( TGGENCO) shows a decrease in power generation. Between April 2023 and January 2024, Telangana produced 48,218.7 MU of power across thermal and other sources. However, between April 2024 and January 2025, Telangana produced 43,402.85 MUs, a difference of 4,816 MUs in a year.
Similarly, data from the Central Electricity Authority reveals that Telangana has not been able to meet its energy requirements for 2024. It shows that Telangana fell short of 7.22 MUs of its 91,651 MU requirement on top of producing less energy between January and June of 2024.
While there was a similar deficit of 12.8 MUs in 2023, the demand was 1,06,057 MUs.
Recently, Vikramarka stated that the state was ready to meet the power needs during the upcoming summer. Aiming to have uninterrupted supply during the season, he assured that all the substations would be ready by 1 March. He further extended the 1912 helpline across the state, directing officials to address any cuts immediately.
Jagadish Reddy told South First that the Telangana movement arose from the unfair distribution of power and water. He noted that there was a lack of political will to provide power despite having the resources in the region.
“It boils down to an issue of commitment,” he explained. “After the formation of the state, we had to make great changes in the energy sector. Industrialists were protesting and leaving the state because of power supply interruption. KCR (former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao) prioritised the sector, providing uninterrupted power to industries within six months,” he continued.
“After that, it took us close to three years to build capacity and provide uninterrupted power statewide, and two more years to perfect it further,” he elaborated. He attributed the uninterrupted power supply to a focus on preventing losses for dependents.
Meanwhile, Sumit Jha, a resident of the Ranga Reddy district highlighted the woes caused due to unannounced and frequent power outages.
“On 14 February, the power in Sudarshan Nagar in Serilingampally went down by around 11.30 am. There was no power for more than four hours,” Sumit said.
He noted that most private company employees work from home on Fridays. He claimed that such power cuts tank the productivity of employees, rendering them unable to work.
Meanwhile, the former minister said that the previous government ensured proper power supply even when they faced difficulties.
“In 2022-23, we faced an issue with the energy supply in the state. The NTPC plant in Ramagundam did not provide the promised quantity. Because of this, we were forced to cut power for about six hours during the night in the area. However, we immediately made up for it by purchasing the required power from elsewhere. That is what we did differently. Even if it was sometimes a loss to the state exchequer, we ensured uninterrupted power supply, to prevent bigger losses to the industries,” he said.
The former minister also noted that Telangana not having any power cuts during a nationwide energy crunch around 2021 was exemplary of this commitment.
“You see, unlike other investments, the Congress cannot claim its share in energy purchases. That is what is causing the issues, the government is chasing its percentage at the cost of power supply,” he alleged. “I think this is also the reason they are averse to turning on the pumps at Kaleshwaram, they don’t want to waste any power,” he suspected
Meanwhile, the TGTRANSCO contradicted the claims of the citizens. “There are absolutely no power cuts across Hyderabad and the whole Telangana,” Jagath Reddy stated.
Responding to the power cut claims, he dismissed that as misattributed. “There might be operational challenges like line maintenance or new connections which people are mistaking for power cuts. However, there is no shortage of power supply in the state and no power cuts,” he told South First.
However, the citizens still disagreed with him. “It’s not about a single day. Since the last two weeks, I have observed frequent power cuts, not for two-three hours, but at least half an hour two-three times a day,” Sumit noted.
The TGTRANSCO Director of Transmission also noted the challenges ahead for the state.
“For the upcoming summer, there are two major challenges ahead of us. First, the peak demand in rural Telangana in March for agriculture. Second, the peak demand in Hyderabad during May,” he said.
“There is a growing demand in the state as we’ve already beaten last year’s numbers,” he added.
Speaking of the challenges from last year, the issue with the load capacity of the transmission lines, he said, “To address the challenges we faced earlier, we are supplementing the lines by either augmenting its capacity or adding new lines. We are also increasing the number of transformers and the capacity of the ones available at various substations,” he continued, adding that they were also procuring the necessary power.
Furthermore, he added that the state was ready to meet the summer’s demand. “The projected peak demand in Telangana during the summer is 16,800 MW. The projected peak demand in Hyderabad is between 4,800 and 5,000 MW,” he explained. Despite the increase since last year, we are ready to meet it,” he stated.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
