Fri Feb 21 14:03:25 UTC 2025: **Andhra Pradesh Avoids Electricity Tariff Hike, Subsidizes Revenue Gap**
VIJAYAWADA, February 21, 2025 – The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has approved a ₹57,545 crore budget for electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) for 2025-26, preventing a tariff increase for consumers. This figure is ₹1,325 crore less than the DISCOMs’ initial request.
The state government will cover the entire revenue gap of ₹12,633 crore, a reduction of ₹2,051 crore from the DISCOMs’ initial projection. This subsidy will include concessions and free power for various consumer categories, such as agricultural consumers, horticultural nurseries, washermen, aquaculture farmers, and Scheduled Caste/Tribe households.
Several key changes were also implemented. For the first time, hourly energy dispatches will be determined for better power management. AP-Genco will be allowed to import coal via Rail-Sea-Rail to maintain generation capacity, reducing DISCOM reliance on the market.
To encourage efficient energy use, Time-of-Day (ToD) tariffs will now apply to low-tension (LT) industrial and commercial consumers, previously only applicable to high-tension (HT) consumers. Furthermore, individuals constructing or reconstructing homes will be billed at domestic rates, not commercial rates. Standby tariffs will apply to all open-access users. EV charging stations with connected loads up to 150 KW will receive power at the LT level, with the tariff remaining unchanged at ₹6.70 per unit.
Finally, a scheme allowing domestic consumers to regularize additional loads by paying only 50% of development charges will run from March 1st to June 30th, 2025. Consumers can declare these loads online.
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