Power tariffs will come down by 13 paise per unit following APERC order: Energy Minister 

Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar on Sunday announced that power tariffs will be reduced by 13 paise per unit following a directive from the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC). The commission ordered the DISCOMs to pay ‘true-down’ charges of ₹924 crore to retail consumers, which will be adjusted in monthly bills from November.

Mr. Ravi Kumar said the tariff cut would ease the burden on households and expressed confidence that more relief would follow. He credited Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for making the rollback possible, citing his vast experience in handling the power sector. Targeting the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), he alleged that the previous government had raised tariffs nine times. He recalled that Andhra Pradesh was power-surplus in 2019, but utilities later slipped into deficit. Despite adequate capacity at Dr. Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS) and Sri Damodaram Sanjeevaiah Thermal Power Station (SDSTPS), the YSRCP government relied on costly power purchases from outside the State.

The Minister also argued that cancellation of renewable Power Purchase Agreements under the YSRCP rule had cost the exchequer around ₹9,000 crore. In contrast, he said, the TDP-led government strengthened the two thermal stations and cut dependence on short-term power purchases from 17% to 6.8%, sourcing power from Rajasthan and Haryana only when necessary.